Urbana-Champaign, Ill. - Bradley Baseball will travel to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, on Tuesday to face the University of Illinois in the Braves' final non-conference game of the season

Bradley Braves Overview

The Braves (11-32) are coming off a series win against the Indiana State Sycamores over the weekend. Cole Smith went 5-for-14 with a double, a triple, an RBI, and three runs scored while stealing a base to extend his hitting streak to five games. 

Bobby Atkinson had two extra-base hits over the weekend, including his seventh home run of the season, which ranks second on the team. Atkinson leads the team with a 1.055 OPS, a .600 slugging percentage, and a .455 on-base percentage.

On the mound, Bradley's pitching has put together some consistent outings as of late. Josh Vaughn has turned in three solid outings, holding the Sycamores hitless in his most recent one. Vaughn currently leads the Braves among qualified pitchers in ERA while only allowing one home run over 33 innings pitched.

The Fighting Illini Overview

The Fighting Illini (26-19) were swept by Rutgers over the weekend and have lost four of their last five games. Vytas Valincius has been a reliable bat for Illinois all season, leading the team with a .355 batting average, 60 hits, 13 doubles, and is tied for the team lead in RBI with 51.

On the mound, Zach Bates has been dominant in late-game situations all season, posting a 1.74 ERA, six saves, a 0.87 WHIP, and he has held the opposition to a .143 batting average. He has yet to give up the longball and has recorded 25 strikeouts in 20 ⅔ innings pitched.

Matchup Outlook

The last time these two teams faced off, Bradley's offense struggled, resulting in a 5-2 loss despite a solid pitching performance. It will be important for the Braves to get on the board early, as Bradley will want to avoid having to rally against Illinois' strong bullpen.