NORMAL, Ill. – Senior Shannon King (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) was a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBI as she extended her hit streak to a career-best 12 games, but I-74 rival Illinois State topped Bradley 2-1 and 10-2 to sweep a midweek doubleheader from the Braves Wednesday afternoon.

Both teams got off to slow starts offensively in the opener, with each team collecting just one hit through the first three innings. 

Bradley left a pair of runners on in the fourth after a walk and single and Illinois State struck for a run in the bottom half of the inning.  Jordan de los Reyes had a one-out double in the fourth for the Redbirds and came around to score on a double by Riley Standgard to give ISU a 1-0 lead.

The Braves loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but were unable to push a run across.

Illinois State added an important insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.  De los Reyes had another one-out double and the Redbirds loaded the bases with a single and walk.  A Bradley error, which would have ended the inning, allowed a run to score as ISU held a 2-0 advantage heading to the seventh.

Senior Brittany Burgess (Utica, Ill./St. Bede) started a Bradley rally attempt in the top of the seventh with a single to leadoff the frame.  Freshman Erika Hansen (Fillmore, Calif./Moorpark) drove in her team-best 34th RBI of the year with a two-out double to plate Burgess and break up the shutout bid.  Junior Kathryn Spenn (Williamsville, Ill./Williamsville) drew a walk to put the go-ahead run on base, but Illinois State threw out a pinch runner trying to steal on the play as the Redbirds took the opener 2-1.

Senior Alyson Spinas-Valainis (Davenport, Iowa/Assumption) came up on the wrong end of the game one pitcher's duel, scattering five hits and two runs (one earned) over six innings of work to fall to 7-14 on the season.

In the nightcap, Illinois State hurler Regan Romshek held Bradley to four hits and the Redbirds roughed up Bradley pitching for eight runs in the first three frames before the Braves got on the scoreboard.

Illinois State left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first and took control of the contest with a five-run second inning.  A leadoff walk and three consecutive one-out singles led to a pair of runs before de los Reyes ripped a three-run homer to left center to give the Redbirds a 5-0 advantage.

In the third, Lindsey Greene followed a leadoff single with a two-run homer of her own and de los Reyes later tacked on another on a pair of wild pitches and error after a single run to push the ISU lead to 8-0.

King, who was 3-for-3 in the opening game, belted her team-best sixth homer of the year with a runner on in the top of the fourth to extend the game as Bradley cut the Illinois State advantage to 8-2.  The home run moved her into a tie for 10th on the Bradley season home run list with six in addition to pushing her into a tie for 10th in school history with 12 career homers.  Hansen scored on the homer after leading off the inning with a single. 

Illinois State got one run back in the bottom of the half of the fourth, however, loading the bases before pushing a run across on a fielder's choice. 

Romshek tossed a 1-2-3 inning for Illinois State in the top of the fifth and ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to cap the 10-2 Redbird win.

Sophomore Jaelen Hull (Clifton, Ill./Bishop McNamara) took the loss in the second game for the Braves to drop to 4-9 on the year.

Bradley opens an eight-game home stand Saturday with a noon doubleheader against Wichita State at Laura Bradley Park as part of a three-game series against the Shockers.