CARBONDALE, IL – The Bradley Braves Softball team lost a pair of games in Carbondale against the Salukis.
Game 1
The Braves trotted out sophomore
Abby Rusher to pitch all six innings of the first two contests. Rusher collected five strikeouts in her six innings of work. After Southern Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the first, senior
Ashley Breeding answered in the top of the second with a home run over the left field wall. She smashed her fourth home run of the season on the first pitch of the at-bat, collecting her 15th RBI. Breeding crossed home to score both Bradley runs, reaching the plate in the fourth inning after the Salukis' right fielder dropped the fly ball, then added salt to the wound with a throwing error to attempt to catch Breeding at second. This allowed Breeding to get all the way home and score the team's second run. Junior
Hilary Wilson also picked up a hit for the Braves, as junior
Ella Shafer recorded a walk. The Braves fell 7-2.
Game 2
Bradley lost the second game of the day 15-0. The Braves picked up a pair of doubles, from Breeding and sophomore
Emily Organ. Organ added to her day with a walk, reaching base in both appearances at the dish. The catcher didn't see action in game one. Senior
Austin Comstock also recorded a walk for the Braves. Freshman
Gianna Hillegonds went three up, three down in the first inning for the Braves in the circle.
Up Next
The Braves will face Southern Illinois on Saturday, March 14th at 1 p.m. CT. for the third game of the series.