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3
Valparaiso VALPO 4-10, 0-1 MVC
5
Winner Bradley BRAD 8-6, 1-0 MVC
Valparaiso VALPO
4-10, 0-1 MVC
3
Final
5
Bradley BRAD
8-6, 1-0 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Valparaiso VALPO 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 9 0
Bradley BRAD 0 0 1 0 2 2 X 5 9 0

W: French, Grace (4-2) L: Kowalski, Caitlyn (3-5) S: Schaller, Camryn (3)

1
Valparaiso VALPO 4-11, 0-2 MVC
16
Winner Bradley BRAD 9-6, 2-0 MVC
Valparaiso VALPO
4-11, 0-2 MVC
1
Final
16
Bradley BRAD
9-6, 2-0 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Valparaiso VALPO 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 3
Bradley BRAD 0 10 2 4 X 16 14 0

W: Radford, Morgan (4-3) L: Seib, Easton (1-5)

Jillian Navarro HR plate
Josh Schwam

Softball Sweeps MVC-Opening DH in Record Fashion

After rallying to win the opener, 5-3, Bradley routed Valparaiso, 16-1, in Saturday's nightcap

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Game Recap: Softball | | Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications
PEORIA, IL – After rallying for a 5-3 win in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams, Bradley (9-6, 2-0 MVC) turned in a record-setting offensive performance in the night cap, a 16-1 rout, to complete a doubleheader sweep against Valparaiso (4-11, 0-2 MVC) Saturday afternoon at Petersen Hotels Field.
 
The 16 runs in the 5-innings second game equaled the most the Braves have ever scored in a Valley game (16-4 win against Indiana State March 19, 2016) and the 15-run margin of victory is Bradley's best ever against a MVC foe, topping a 13-0 victory against Wichita State in the second game of a doubleheader April 19, 1985.
 
Bradley, which extended its winning streak to seven in a row, scored 10 runs in the second inning of the nightcap to blow the game open.  The Braves sent 16 hitters to the plate in the second; the first nine hitters reached base before Valparaiso recorded an out.  Samantha Smith (2-run double and 2-run single) drove in four on two hits in the inning, while Lucy Mead also delivered a pair of RBI singles in the inning.  Jillian Navarro (2B, BB) and Keeler van Breusegen (1B, BB) also reached base safely in their two plate appearances in the second.
 
Freshman Morgan Radford (4-3) picked up the win by striking out a season-best five in a 4-hit effort.
 
In Saturday's opener, Vicki Zaluske drove in the go-ahead run with a double that hit off the top of the fence in left centerfield for a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, helping the Braves rally out of an early, 2-0 deficit.  Navarro came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit, 2-run home run to left field that proved to be the difference.
 
Sophomore Grace French (4-2) scattered eight hits in 6.1 innings, before giving way to freshman Camryn Schaller with one out and one on in the seventh.  Valpo loaded the bases with one out as Schaller completed a walk started by French and gave up a single, but she closed the door by getting a sacrifice fly and a ground out to earn her third save of the season.
 
Bradley's middle infielders enjoyed a solid day at the plate:  SS Lucy Mead was a combined 5-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBIs, while Zaluske was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
 
The teams will complete their Valley-opening series with an 11 a.m. single game Sunday at Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.  Attendance will be limited to the player pass lists from both teams.  Sunday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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Players Mentioned

Grace French

#32 Grace French

P/UT
5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
Lucy Mead

#4 Lucy Mead

IF/UT
5' 8"
Sophomore
L/R
Jillian Navarro

#24 Jillian Navarro

OF
5' 7"
Junior
R/R
Morgan Radford

#00 Morgan Radford

LHP
5' 3"
Freshman
L/L
Samantha Smith

#12 Samantha Smith

OF/C
5' 6"
Sophomore
R/R
Keeler van Breusegen

#8 Keeler van Breusegen

OF
5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
Vicki Zaluske

#34 Vicki Zaluske

IF
5' 5"
Junior
R/R
Camryn Schaller

#9 Camryn Schaller

P/UT
5' 8"
Freshman
L/R

Players Mentioned

Grace French

#32 Grace French

5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
P/UT
Lucy Mead

#4 Lucy Mead

5' 8"
Sophomore
L/R
IF/UT
Jillian Navarro

#24 Jillian Navarro

5' 7"
Junior
R/R
OF
Morgan Radford

#00 Morgan Radford

5' 3"
Freshman
L/L
LHP
Samantha Smith

#12 Samantha Smith

5' 6"
Sophomore
R/R
OF/C
Keeler van Breusegen

#8 Keeler van Breusegen

5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Vicki Zaluske

#34 Vicki Zaluske

5' 5"
Junior
R/R
IF
Camryn Schaller

#9 Camryn Schaller

5' 8"
Freshman
L/R
P/UT