Bradley University Athletics

Bradley Softball Set For Citrus Classic

Bob Hunt - Photographer

Softball 2/21/2018 1:54:00 PM

PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley Softball will play outside for the first time in 2018 this weekend at the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., after having last week's trip to the Marucci Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., cancelled due to travel issues. The Braves will play a trio of ranked teams this weekend and four of five contests against squads which finished in the top 60 of last year's RPI.

The trip of Florida is the first for Bradley (3-2 overall) since 2016 and the Braves will play in the Orlando, Fla., area for the first time since the 2015 campaign. Florida has been a frequent stop for Bradley with the 2018 campaign marking the 23rd season with a trip to the Sunshine State for the Braves. In fact, Bradley has played more games in the state of Florida (157) than any other state outside of Illinois with 73 victories in those outings.

A subscription video stream is available for all five games at the Citrus Classic through FloSoftball.com

The Braves open the weekend Friday with a 2 p.m. (CST) game against 24th-ranked South Carolina (10-1 overall) in the first meeting between the team teams since 2009 and third overall meeting in the series which dates back to 1987. Both of the previous matchups with the Gamecocks were played in Florida.

Friday's action also includes the first game against Purdue (1-8 overall) since 2006. Bradley will face the Boilermakers at 4:30 p.m. (CST) Friday in the first of three games this season against Big Ten Conference teams. The Braves own a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series with Purdue.

Bradley will play a pair of ranked teams Saturday, opening the day with a 9 a.m. (CST) contest against defending Big Ten champion and 22nd-ranked Minnesota (5-4 overall). The teams have split two previous meetings, with the Braves topping the Golden Gophers in 1985 in Normal, Ill., and Minnesota winning a game at the 2003 Metrodome Classic.

Kentucky (5-2 overall), which advanced to 2017 NCAA Super Regionals, is ranked as high as 23rd in the latest national polls heading into Saturday's 2 p.m. (CST) matchup. Bradley topped the Wildcats in the only previous meeting, posting a 1-0 victory at a tournament in Carbondale, Ill., during the opening weekend of the 1998 season.

The weekend concludes Sunday with a 10:30 a.m. (CST) game against first-time opponent South Alabama (5-4 overall). The Jaguars are one of three first-time opponents on the 2018 Bradley schedule.

The Braves have played two of five games to date against ranked teams, after hosting then #4-ranked Washington for a pair of games at the season-opening Petersen Hotels Invitational. The three weekend contests against ranked teams would give Bradley its most games against nationally ranked squads (5) since playing seven regular-season matchups and a total of nine games (including NCAA Tournament games) against ranked teams in 2014.

The Braves will follow up the Citrus Classic with the Blues City Classic in Memphis, Tenn., March 2-4, where Bradley will face Memphis, Louisiana-Monroe and IPFW in addition to playing a pair of games against UMKC.

Print Friendly Version