PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley Baseball turns its attention to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend as the Braves travel to face Indiana State in their first league series of the 2026 season. Bradley enters the weekend at 4-16 overall, while the Sycamores come in at 8-12 through their first 20 games.
Bradley Braves Overview
Bradley enters conference play hitting .232 as a team with 147 hits and 103 runs scored through the first 20 games of the season . The Braves have leaned into an aggressive style offensively and currently lead the Missouri Valley Conference in stolen bases, swiping 48 bags in 56 attempts while consistently applying pressure on opposing defenses .
Luke Skinner has emerged as one of Bradley's top bats, leading the team with a .324 average, while Sohrab Rezaei has been a consistent presence in the lineup, hitting .278 with a .423 on-base percentage . Michael Quick continues to set the tone at the top, collecting a team-high 20 hits and scoring 10 runs.
Hayden Miller has provided power and production, leading the Braves with four home runs and 12 RBIs while also going a perfect 11-for-11 on stolen base attempts. Landon Lowe has added 11 RBIs of his own, and AJ Garcia continues to contribute across the board with 13 hits and eight stolen bases.
On the mound, Bradley has logged 157 innings with 121 strikeouts, with Davis Webb leading the staff with 18 strikeouts in 16.1 innings. Joey Cirelli and Calen Scheider have both taken on key starting roles early in the season, while the bullpen continues to develop depth heading into league play .
Defensively, the Braves hold a .950 fielding percentage and have turned 13 double plays.
Indiana State Sycamores Overview
Indiana State enters the weekend hitting .248 as a team with 170 hits and 128 runs scored. The Sycamores have shown balance offensively, combining power with timely hitting throughout the lineup.
Caden Miller leads the way with a .300 average, three home runs, and 21 RBIs, while Carter Beck and Emil Estrella have each added 24 hits and combined for seven home runs. Nick Sutherlin adds additional pop with four home runs and 21 RBIs.
On the mound, Indiana State carries a 6.98 team ERA across 176.2 innings. Ty Brooks has been a standout starter with a 2.53 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 32 innings, while Jack Armstrong has added 20 strikeouts and a 3.72 ERA. The Sycamores' pitching staff has shown the ability to miss bats with 164 strikeouts as a group .
Defensively, Indiana State holds a .963 fielding percentage and has been efficient limiting mistakes behind its pitching staff.
Matchup Outlook
The opening MVC weekend presents an opportunity for Bradley to reset and establish its identity in conference play. The Braves' ability to generate offense with speed and apply pressure on the bases will be a key factor against an Indiana State team that has been solid but not dominant on the mound.
For Bradley, limiting free passes and avoiding big innings will be critical against a Sycamore lineup that features multiple run producers in the middle of the order. Clean defense and timely hitting will also play a major role as the Braves look to carry momentum into the conference slate.
With a new season effectively beginning in Valley play, the weekend offers Bradley a chance to turn early-season growth into results against a familiar conference opponent.
