April 29, 2025 | Peoria, Ill. | Dozer Park
The Braves dropped their two weekday matches to the Fighting Illini on Tuesday and the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Wednesday.

Game 1: Illinois 5, Bradley 2

The Braves went down 2-0 early in the first, and Illinois added three more in the fourth on a three-run homer to make it 5-0. Bradley tried to rally when Jackson Smith hit a two-RBI double, but it wasn't enough to catch the Fighting Illini. Smith finished the day at 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a stolen base. On the mound, Matthew Kitzman had a solid outing, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out four without allowing a hit.

Top Performer: Jackson Smith (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 1 SB)
Bradley Offense: 2 runs, 7 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
Pitching Grit: 5 runs allowed, 4 earned, 13 strikeouts

Game 2: Western Illinois 9, Bradley 6

The Braves took an early lead in the first on a Cole Smith RBI double and extended it in the top of the second on a Dominic Anselmo RBI groundout. The Leathernecks tied it in the bottom of the second and took the lead in the third before breaking the game open in the fifth with a grand slam and added an insurance run in the sixth to make it 8-2. Bradley started a rally in the seventh with a Nick Fleckenstein RBI single, and another run scored when Fleckenstein was picked off first, allowing Anselmo to score. Ashton Horchem's RBI single in the top of the eighth brought the game within three, but the Leathernecks took that run back in the bottom of the eighth. The Braves added a final run in the ninth on a Mason Breidenbach fielder's choice that brought home CJ Trask. Horchem was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while swiping a bag.

Top Performer: Ashton Horchem (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 run scored)
Bradley Offense: 6 runs, 9 hits, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts
Pitching Grit: 9 runs allowed, all earned, 7 strikeouts

Looking Ahead

The Braves will travel to Indiana State to take on the Sycamores in a weekend series from Friday, May 2, to Sunday, May 4.