at Wichita State 10, Bradley 9

WICHITA, KS - With the opportunity to earn its first season series win at Wichita State since 1990, Bradley could not hold onto an early 4-0 lead, nor a 9-6 lead in the ninth, suffering a 10-9 walk-off loss in 10 innings Sunday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

Shockers designated hitter Alec Bohm came through with a 2-out, bases loaded single in the bottom of the 10th to give Wichita State (15-25, 5-4 MVC) the walk-off win. Bohm also doubled and scored during Wichita State's 3-run, 9th-inning rally that prevented Bradley (17-15, 3-5 MVC) from clinching its first regular-season series win at Wichita State since 1986 (3-games-to-1) or overall series win in Wichita since 1990 (3-2 with a MVC Tournament victory included).

Bradley banged out 17 hits Sunday, getting 3-hit performances from Spencer Gaa (3-6), Tyler Leffler (3-5), Evan Gruener (3-5) and D.J. Gasso (3-4). Gruener became the third Bradley player this season - Paul Solka and Gaa - to tie the single-game program record by legging out three of Bradley's six doubles. His RBI double in the first capped a 3-run outburst against Wichita State starter Tyler Schwanke. Freshman DH Luke Mangieri opened the game with his first career home run as the first five Bradley hitters reached safely. The first inning also included a RBI triple by Leffler.

Freshman CF Andy Shadid homered for the third time in as many games in the series to lead off the fourth, extending Bradley's lead to 4-0.

Wichita State rallied with four runs in the fifth, highlighted by Greyson Jenista's 3-run home run. The fifth-inning scoring ended a streak of 22.0 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, spanning seven appearances, by Bradley starter Brent Stong. The Shockers took their first lead, 6-4, with two runs in the sixth on consecutive RBI singles by Trey Vickers and Mikel Mucha.

In a weekend series marked by back-and-forth play, the Braves reclaimed the lead, 7-6, with three runs in the seventh on consecutive doubles by Paul Solka and Gruener. Bradley pushed the lead to 9-6 in the eighth on consecutive 2-out, RBI singles by Gaa and Leffler.

Wichita State forced extra innings by scoring three runs in the ninth against Bradley closer Allan Beer, who surrendered 1-out doubles on either side of a walk. After a RBI ground out got the Shockers to within 9-8, the Wichita State plated the tying run on a 2-out throwing error by Leffler on a high-chopper off the bat of Chase Rader.

After Bradley failed to take advantage of Gasso's 1-out single in the 10th, Bradley freshman pitchers Jacob Hurst (L, 0-2) and Ben Cilano loaded the bases on three walks. Bohm then laced a line drive single to center field to end the game.

Having played 27 of its 32 games away from home, Bradley will open a 5-game home stand Wednesday by hosting Robert Morris (Peoria) in a 6 p.m. game at Dozer Park. Valley rival Dallas Baptist, which joined the Braves as an at-large entry in last year's NCAA Regionals, will visit Dozer Park for a 3-game weekend series. Saturday's 8 p.m. game against the Patriots will be televised nationally on ESPNU.