2016 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational
Bradley 10, Bucknell 8

WINTER HAVEN, FL - Bradley banged out a season-high 16 hits for the second consecutive day and the Braves plated three runs in the ninth inning to rally for a 10-8 victory against Bucknell Monday afternoon at Chain of Lakes Park.

The Braves (7-6) scored 30 runs in the 3-game series to earn the sweep.

Freshman CF Andy Shadid was one of seven Bradley players to finish with two hits, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and a 3-run home run. His blast in the fifth inning started Bradley's comeback effort from a 4-0 deficit. Shadid's leadoff double in the seventh started a 4-run outburst that briefly gave the Braves a 7-6 lead.

Bucknell scored a pair of runs in the eighth inning off Bradley reliever Brent Stong (W, 1-0), who was making his return from an oblique injury suffered during the opening weekend, and took an 8-7 lead into the ninth.

Junior 3B Spencer Gaa, who was 2-for-4 and reached base in each of his final three plate appearances, led off the top of the ninth with a single. After SS Tyler Leffler struck out, 1B Paul Solka singled and DH Luke Mangieri tied the score, 8-8, by driving home Gaa with the inning's third single.

After a wild pitch moved Solka to third and Mangieri to second, LF Evan Gruener brought home the go-ahead run with a bunt single and 2B Allan Beer followed with a successful squeeze bunt for the 10-8 lead.

Beer took over on the mound to start the bottom of the ninth. After giving up a leadoff single, Beer induced a double play ground out and got a strikeout to end the game and secure his second save.

The Braves will have a day off Tuesday before resuming play in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Wednesday against Lehigh.