May 2, 2025 | Marion, Ill. | Mtn. Dew Park
Bradley Baseball won their second season series, taking two of three against the Indiana State Sycamores over the weekend.
Game 1: Indiana State 7, Bradley 8
The Braves came out firing in their first game on Friday, scoring all eight of their runs in the first five innings. Bobby Atkinson continued a successful season with a two-run bomb in his first at-bat of the game. The Sycamores tied the game in the second and took the lead in the top of the third. Bradley fought back, tying the game with RBI singles from Mason Breidenbach and Timmy O'Brien. Cole Smith hit an RBI single in the fourth, and Jackson Smith later scored on a failed pickoff attempt to give Bradley a 6-4 lead. Indiana State added one more in the top of the fifth, but the Braves added two more in the bottom half of the inning on Beau Durbin's RBI triple and Cole Luckey's RBI groundout. The Sycamores added two more in the sixth, but Bradley held on to keep the win. Cole Smith hit 3-for-5 with a triple, a double, an RBI, and two runs scored while swiping one bag. Gavin Thompson earned his second win of the season, and Reece Clapp earned his fourth save of the season, throwing 3 ⅔ scoreless innings, yielding four hits and walking two while striking out one.
Top Performer: Cole Smith (3-for-5, a double, a triple, an RBI, a SB)
Bradley Offense: 8 runs, 12 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
Pitching Grit: 7 runs allowed, all earned, 3 strikeouts, 7 walks
Game 2: Indiana State 3, Bradley 7
The Braves took game two of the series after an outstanding outing from Josh Vaughn, who had a no-hitter through five innings to earn his first win of the season. Bobby Atkinson picked up his second extra-base hit of the series with an RBI double in the first. Cole Luckey continued the early offense with a two-RBI single to give the Braves a 3-0 lead. Jackson Smith scored on a wild pitch in the second, and in the fourth, Ashton Horchem scored on another wild pitch before Atkinson drove in his second of the day on a sacrifice fly. Horchem's RBI single in the fifth gave Bradley a 7-0 lead before the Sycamores recorded a hit. Indiana State added three runs later in the game, but could not catch the Braves. Horchem finished the day hitting 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored.
Top Performer: Josh Vaughn (5.0 innings pitched, no runs, no hits, 3 strikeouts)
Bradley Offense: 7 runs, 11 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
Pitching Grit: 3 runs allowed, all earned, 6 strikeouts
Game 3: Indiana State 4, Bradley 2
The Braves dropped the final game of the series on Sunday to the Sycamores after a late rally fell short. Indiana State took an early lead in the first on a solo shot, but Bradley responded immediately on an RBI single from Bobby Atkinson. Indiana State added two in the sixth and another at the top of the eighth to make the score 4-1. The Braves scratched one more run across when Mason Breidenbach scored on a Beau Durbin fielder's choice. Jackson Smith was 1-for-3 with two walks, a run scored, and two stolen bases. Jackson Horras struck out three across 2 ⅓ innings without giving up an earned run.
Top Performer: Jackson Horras (2.1 innings pitched, 1 run, none earned, 3 strikeouts)
Bradley Offense: 2 runs, 5 hits, 8 walks, 7 strikeouts
Pitching Grit: 4 runs allowed, 3 earned, 5 strikeouts
Looking Ahead
The Braves will travel to the University of Illinois on Tuesday before competing in their final homestand of the season next weekend as they face the Valparaiso Beacons.
