at Butler 3, Bradley 1

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Butler took advantage of five Bradley errors, including two in the decisive eighth inning, to earn a 3-1 win against the Braves (10-8) Saturday afternoon at Butler Park.

Bradley starter Cameron Roegner (L 1-3) suffered the hard luck loss, despite allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits in 7.1 innings. The Bulldogs put their go ahead runs on base in the eighth on a pair of left-side errors sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt.

Eric Scheuermann relieved Roegner after the sacrifice and was greeted by a base hit that loaded the bases. Michael Hartnagel then drew a 12-pitch walk to force home the go ahead run and Gehrig Parker followed with a sacrifice fly for the insurance run.

Nick Morton turned in a strong start for the Bulldogs, but came away with no decision, despite allowing one run on seven hits in 7.0 innings. Zach Barnes earned the win with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.

Paul Solka led the Braves with two hits and Andy Shadid extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a double in the seventh. Brady Wilkin followed Shadid's double with a sacrifice fly to drive home Bradley's lone run.

The Braves will face Western Michigan in a second game Saturday at Butler Park, then will take on the Bulldogs again Saturday. Bradley pounded out a 16-5 win against Western Michigan Friday night at nearby Grand Park.

Western Michigan 6, Bradley 3

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Pinch-hitter Evan Nelson delivered a grand slam in the seventh inning as Western Michigan (7-13) rallied for a 6-3 win against Bradley (10-9) Saturday afternoon at Butler Park.

Bradley freshman LHP Ben Olson (L, 1-2) was dominant through six innings, before running into the trouble in the seventh. Coming off an outing that saw him become the first Bradley freshman to strike out 10 hitters in a game since 2003, Olson struck out nine and had surrendered only a misplayed bunt single through the first six innings Saturday.

After Grant Miller led off the seventh with Western Michigan's first solid hit of the game, things began to unravel for the Braves. Luke Mangierie committed an error on a sharply hit ball to third and Olson gave up his second walk of the day to load the bases with two outs. After catcher Jesse Forestell singled home the Broncos' first run, Western Michigan head coach Billy Gernon made an unorthodox move by replacing his right-handed hitting designated hitter, Alex Goodwin, with the lefty swinging Nelson.

Nelson made the move look brilliant when he hammered a 1-2 pitch from Olson over the right centerfield wall for the go ahead grand slam.

Both teams finished the game with seven hits. Hot-hitting Paul Solka led Bradley's effort by going 2-for-3 wiht a solo home run in the second. Solka also singled and scored on an Ian Kristan double in the sixth. Freshman CF Andy Shadid extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a seventh-inning double and he scored on a Brady Wilkin single.

The Braves will close out the double round-robin event Sunday with a noon ET game at Butler. Bradley will play its 21st game away from home to start the season Wednesday at Saint Louis, then will host MacMurray Friday (6 p.m.) in the 2016 home opener at Dozer Park.