Peoria, IL. Bradley 10-13 (3-3) and Southern Illinois 15-13 (5-1) collided at Dozer park in a weekend series that saw SIU take two out of three games.
Game Recaps
Game 1 | Friday March 31st & Saturday April 1st
After becoming the ninth game on BU's schedule to be altered due to the weather, the first in a three-game series between SIU and Bradley turned out to be one that didn't lack offense. The Braves and Salukis combined for 14 runs and 18 hits which saw SIU take a 3-2 lead into the eighth inning after a collection of small ball runs off of SAC flies and timely singles put the Salukis out in front. Unfortunately, BU and SIU would have to wait until Saturday afternoon to finish the contest, as the eight-inning severe weather moved into the Peoria area forced the game to be suspended. When the game resumed the following afternoon, SIU didn't wait long to capture the momentum with a four-run top of the ninth inning to extend the lead to 9-2. Bradley would close the game in the game's final half inning with
Connor O'Brien sending a big fly over the outfield fence to score
Jackson Chatterton,
Connor Manthey, and O'Brien. BU would run out of chances in the bottom of the ninth with SIU winning game one 9-5.
Jacob Kisting was the starter in game one for Bradley. Kisting exited the game after 5.0 IP on 92 pitches, giving up three earned runs on six hits.
Taylor Catton,
Noah Edders, and
John Day all entered in relief to close out the game.
Game 2 | Saturday April 1st
Bradley and SIU would play a second game on Saturday just 30 minutes after the conclusion of Friday's resumed game. Travis Lutz would get the nod to start for the Braves. The sophomore transfer from Illinois Central College went four innings on 92 pitches, including escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning which only resulted in a single run for SIU. Bradley's bats would get going early with a Chatterton SAC fly, followed by an O'Brien three-run home run to push BU's lead to 4-1. The home run for O'Brien extended his home run streak to three games. Bradley would later add one more run off of a Logan Delgado RBI single. However, SIU wouldn't go quietly on offense. The Salukis would tag on three more runs in the top of the fifth inning to bring the score line to 6-5 in favor of the Braves. This set the stage for a drama-filled top of the ninth inning as Connor Langrell entered in the ninth inning to close out the Bradley win. Langrell would start off the inning by walking SIU's Bennet Eltoft. Eltoft would then advance to third after advancing to second on a wild pitch and stealing third base. The following two SIU batters would both walk and load the bases with just one out. Following SIU loading the bases, Langrell induced an infield fly on to Christman of SIU and then follow up with a pop-up to Connor O'Brien to seal the Bradley win. Langrell recorded his 7th save which ties him for second in the nation.
Game 3 | Sunday April 2nd
Following the late game drama of game two in the series, Bradley and SU would play a rubber match to decide a series victor. SIU entered as one of the favorites to win the MVC, and they showed why in game three. SIU began the game by scoring at least a single run in all four of the game's first four innings. BU would try several arms at the SIU lineup with five total pitchers getting a crack. Ryan Vogel, Cole Luckey, and Connor O'Brien each collected RBIs for the Braves late in the contest with Vogel gathering two runs on his 2-RBI double. SIU would ultimately pull away out of reach after a 9-run top of the 5th inning securing what would go on to be a 16-4 win for SIU.
What's Next?
Bradley will be back in action against the Iowa Hawkeyes out of the Big 10 for the first of two meetings this season beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night at Dozer Park. Bradley will return to play the Hawkeyes later this season in Iowa City, IA.
