The Braves hosted the Valparaiso Beacons over the weekend, losing the series 1-2.
In the opening game on Friday, Bradley was bested 0-2. The Braves collected a single hit from
Ashley Breeding, unable to get a run on the board.
Grace French got the start in the circle for the Braves, throwing a complete game. French gave up two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out six. The Beacons tallied runs in the first and seventh innings to give them the only two runs of the game.
With rain looming in the forecast for Sunday, the teams instead met for a doubleheader on Saturday. Valparaiso got on the board in the first inning of the first game, and it would be the only run of the game despite four hits from the Beacons. The Braves were once again unable to get a run on the board and also failed to tally a hit in the first game of the doubleheader, thus losing 0-1.
Camryn Schaller threw for the Braves, giving up one run on four hits, walking two and striking out five.
The final game of the series, and the second of the doubleheader, would be a different showing for Bradley. After two scoreless innings, the Braves were able to score in the bottom of the third. French was hit by a pitch and then moved over to second on a
Lauren DeRolf single. With
Kierston McCoy up to bat, French would come around to score on a single from the freshman. The Beacons would come back in the top of the fourth to score two, but Bradley answered with two of its own in the bottom of the inning. An
Abbott Badgley single brought
Olivia Bradley into the game to run, and she would end up on second thanks to a sac bunt from
Addie Welsh. Bradley would come home to score on a double from
Allie Paregien, and Paregien then scored on a triple from
Ashley Breeding. The Braves would keep their 3-2 lead and win the game. French picked up the win, throwing a complete game. DeRolf, McCoy, Austin
Comstock, Badgley, Pareign and Breeding each picked up a single hit in the game.
The Braves will head on the road for a series at Southern Illinois before going to Chicago to face the UIC Flames the following weekend.
