Bradley University Athletics

Sycamores Rally Before Storms Strike

Indiana State rallied for a 5-4 win in the opening game and storms forced the suspension of the second game Friday in Terre Haute

Dave Wegiel, Pinola Photo

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Baseball 4/28/2017 4:51:00 PM

Box Score Game 1: at Indiana State 5, Bradley 4
Game 2: Bradley 3, at Indiana 2 - Suspended bottom 4

TERRE HAUTE, IN - Bradley outhit host Indiana State, 10-6, but the Sycamores got their hits in bunches to rally for a 5-4 win in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader Friday at Bob Warn Field. The Braves (18-21, 4-6 MVC) hold a 3-2 lead in the second game, which was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning and is scheduled to be resumed at 1 p.m. CT Saturday.

Bradley senior pitcher Nathan Stong retired the first 10 batters he faced before Indiana State (19-20, 5-5 MVC) suddenly erupted for three consecutive home runs to take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning in Friday's series opener. Stong recovered to strike out the next two hitters to end the fourth and did not allow another hit, retiring 11 of the final 12 Sycamores he faced before giving way to sophomore Ben Olson (L 1-3) to start the eighth.

Bradley quickly responded to Indiana State's fourth-inning outburst by scoring four times in the fifth. The Braves touched Indiana State starter Tyler Ward for six hits in the fifth inning, including run-scoring hits by Evan Gruener (double), Andy Shadid, Luke Mangieri and Derek Bangert.

The Braves managed only one more hit the rest of the way, however, a sixth-inning leadoff single by Brendan Dougherty, who finished 2-for-4. Bangert finished 3-for-4 and Luke Shadid 2-for-3.

Olson retired the first two hitters he faced in the eighth, before the top four hitters in the Indiana State order all reached safely with two outs on consecutive doubles, a walk and the go-ahead RBI single by Tony Rosselli. Closer Austin Conway pitched a perfect ninth to earn his eighth save.

In the second game, Bradley scored solo runs in the second, third and fourth innings to take a 3-2 lead. The game was halted by lightning with Indiana State batting in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and a runner at second base.

Luke Mangieri is 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI, while Bangert (sac fly) and Shadid (1-for-1) also have driven in runs for the Braves. Alex Gray allowed two runs on five hits in his 3.2 innings as the game 2 starting pitcher.

Print Friendly Version