IOWA CITY, Iowa - Designated hitter Elliot Ashbeck was 2-for-4 with a go-ahead RBI double in the fifth inning and five Bradley pitchers held host Iowa in check as the Braves (17-5) set the school record for the most wins before their home opener with a 5-2 victory against the Hawkeyes (14-6) Wednesday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.

Bradley, which improved to 8-3 in its 11 games against the Big 10 Conference since the start of the 2011 season, won its third straight series road game against the Hawkeyes. Bradley's 17 wins are the most in the program's 115-year history before playing its first home game of the season, eclipsing the 1987 team's 16-7 start on the way to a final 41-21 record. The Braves, who began the day No. 5 in the RPI rankings, will host Missouri Valley Conference rival Southern Illinois in a 3-game series at Dozer Park Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).

Freshman right-hander Jordan Fedro turned in his second straight solid start and was credited with the win in a game that saw 13 pitchers from both teams toe the rubber. Fedro (2-0) worked around five hits, allowing one run with two walks and a strikeout. Four Bradley relievers combined to allow just one run on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts to close out the win.

Ashbeck was one of four Braves to deliver multiple hits as Carson Weber (2-5), Paul Solka (2-4) and Ian Kristan (2-3) all picked up two hits and an RBI.

Isaac Smith led off the decisive fifth inning with a walk against Iowa's fourth pitcher, Brandon Shulista (1-2), who was in position to escape the inning with no damage after getting a ground ball and strikeout against Bradley's next two hitters. Ashbeck came through with his fourth double of the season and Solka, who tripled and scored in the second, followed with a RBI single to plate would proved to be the deciding run. Solka also was hit by a pitch and scored the final run in the seventh on a Kristan double.

Single-game tickets for Bradley Baseball weekend games at Dozer Park are $6 for adults, $3 for children (K-12) and free for Bradley University students, faculty and staff, as well as active members of the military and immediate family members. Tickets are available one hour prior to game time at the Dozer Park main entrance, located at the corner of Jefferson Street and Pete Vonachen Way.