2015 MVC Baseball Championship | Game 7
(3) Bradley 5, (7) Indiana State 4

WICHITA, Kan. - Sophomore left fielder Evan Gruener hit what could prove to be the biggest home run in the last 48 years of Bradley Baseball in the top of the ninth and added a defensive gem in the bottom of the ninth, leading the Braves (34-18) to a 5-4 win against Indiana State (28-25) during the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Championship Thursday evening at Eck Stadium.

With Bradley facing a 4-2 deficit in the top of the ninth and runners at first and second with two outs, Gruener launched the first pitch he saw from Sycamores closer Austin Conway (4-2) for a towering, 3-run home run over the right field wall. Gruener then made a running catch of a Andy Young line drive into the left centerfield gap to get the Braves off to a good start in the bottom of the ninth.

Bradley closer Matt Dennis (3-0) ran into trouble in the ninth, but the Sycamores helped him escape the jam with a big base-running blunder. After Hunter Owen drew a 1-out walk to represent the tying run, Jacob Hayes followed with a single into right field. Owen froze after over-running second base and right fielder Carson Weber's throw was on the money to shortstop Tyler Leffler, who tagged out Owen, who was trying to scurry back to second. The miscue proved especially costly when Kaden Moore followed with another single to right field, but Dennis won a battle of wills against Manuel Estevez by completing an 8-pitch battle with a game-ending strikeout. Esteves had fouled off six pitches during the at bat.

Bradley is considered to be on the NCAA Regionals bubble after ending the regular-season with five straight losses, but the Braves have won their first two games at the MVC Baseball Championship for just the fourth time in program history and have strengthened their bid for their first postseason appearance since 1968. The Braves now have won 23 games away from home, among the best wins total away from home in the country, and Thursday's win gave Bradley an immediate small bump up to 20 in the Ratings Percentage Index, as updated at warrennolan.com.

More immediately, Bradley has advanced to the MVC Baseball Championship Bracket A final. The Braves will await the winner of Friday morning's elimination game between No. 11 Dallas Baptist and Indiana State. Bradley will face the winner in Friday's 4 p.m. game at Eck Stadium.

Junior lefthander Brent Stong gave the Braves a strong start by allowing two runs on six hits in the first six innings, but after Bradley had pulled even with two runs in the top of the seventh, Stong was on the hook for the loss after surrendering a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. Dennis relieved Stong, but the Sycamores followed up the walk with consecutive bunt singles, a hot shot single through the box and a high-hopping ground out to third base to retake the lead, 4-2.

Indiana State starter Ryan Keaffaber allowed the Braves just two hits through the first six innings, but Sycamores shortstop Tyler Friis opened the door for Bradley in the top of the seventh. Spencer Gaa hit a 1-out single and Paul Solka added a 2-out single to put runners at first and third. Keaffaber appeared to get out of the jam when he got Drew Carlile to hit a routine ground ball to short, but Friis bobbled the ball, then threw wild to first as Carlile just avoided a tag out to extend the inning.

With runners still at first and second after Gaa scored, Tyler Leffler hit a high-hopper up the middle that would have loaded the bases if kept on the infield, but in his attempt to slide in front of the ball, Friis kicked it into shallow right field, allowing Solka to run home with the tying run.

Bradley's go-ahead rally in the ninth also was aided by an Indiana State miscue. After Elliot Ashbeck drew a leadoff walk, Solka lifted a high pop into shallow right field, where second baseman Andy DeJesus dropped the ball as he and Hayes converged. Consecutive pop outs by Carilile and Leffler put the game in Gruener's hands and he delivered with his sixth home run of the year.