PEORIA, IL – The Bradley Braves Softball team hosts Illinois State for the final regular season series of the season. The Braves will celebrate their graduating student-athletes in Saturday's contest.

Game Information
Game 1
Date: Friday, May 1st
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT.
Location: OSF Healthcare Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, IL
Watch | Live Stats

Game 2
Date: Friday, May 1st
Time: 5:00 p.m. CT.
Location: OSF Healthcare Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, IL
Watch | Live Stats

Game 3
Date: Saturday, May 2nd
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT.
Location: OSF Healthcare Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, IL
Watch | Live Stats

Last Time Out
The Braves lost a pair to the Northern Iowa Panthers in a midweek doubleheader. The first game of the day was a 10-9 loss to UNI. Senior Austin Comstock got the party started with a solo home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Hilary Wilson hit a moonshot over the left field wall in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs. The Panthers rallied back, gaining an 8-3 lead exiting the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, sophomore Olivia Turner stepped up with bases loaded and cleared the bags with a double to right center. Turner's three RBIs were the most by a Brave in the doubleheader. Junior Ella Shafer tripled to start the sixth inning. Sophomore Morgan Schlosser singled to bring Shafer home. Sophomore Emily Organ singled down the right field wall, scoring a pair of Braves and taking a 9-8 lead. The Panthers answered in the seventh and earned a 9-0 game two final. Schlosser and Turner went 2-4 in the first contest. In the second game of the doubleheader, senior Kinsely Robertson had a career high of six strikeouts.

Record Watch
Senior Kierston McCoy enters the weekend in third place for career home runs in Bradley Softball's program history. She is one swing away from tying second place and three away from tying first place. With just four long balls, McCoy would take the title for herself. Her 11 home runs this season are the most the Mapleton native has hit in a single season across her collegiate career, currently the sixth most across the Valley.

Along with the home run record, McCoy is two doubles away from tying the single-season and career Bradley Softball program records for doubles, three away from taking the title for herself. McCoy will claim both titles for herself on the same swing. McCoy's 19 doubles this season are the most in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Six Seniors
Graduate Student Hailey Webb will graduate from Bradley with a master's degree in Sports Communication. The catcher has played in 59 games for Bradley since transferring in 2025 from Appalachian State University. A stable presence behind the plate, Webb has logged a .971 fielding percentage with over 217 putouts in her Bradley career.

"What makes her special is her selflessness. Off the field in the community, she created a volunteering program with the children's hospital. I believe wholeheartedly that it helped our team come together," said Head Coach Lauren Gambone. "She's done a great job on the field, being a leader vocally, putting in the extra work in the bullpen to help our pitching staff."

Senior Brynna Seitz did not play her junior year due to an ACL injury. In her first year playing for the Braves, she has seen action in 43 games, hitting .261 with a .328 on-base percentage. She's been adaptable for Coach Gambone and her teammates, starting the year in the outfield before moving back to her traditional position, second base.

"Brynna has faced some adversity here," Gambone said. "She came back this spring stronger. We were really excited to see her on the field. She's done an amazing job doing anything and everything she's been called upon to do. I'm super appreciative of her two years here and all the hard work that she's put in."

Kierston McCoy grew up 10 miles down the road from campus in a small town called Mapleton, IL. McCoy has now started over 200 games for Bradley, with a .267 batting average across her four years as a Brave. She made the transition from third base to right field in the second half of her junior year, even making eight pitching appearances for the Braves during her freshman season. McCoy's 105 RBIs, 42 doubles and 28 home runs will go down as some of the most wearing Red and White in Bradley softball's long and prestigious history.

"Obviously, the accolades speak for themselves, hoping to get her to the top of some records this weekend," Gambone said. "Her bat plays a huge part, but her vocal leadership, her example on and off the field, as well as her hustle, is what sets her apart."

Senior Ashley Breeding traveled a long way from home to play for the Braves, but has been in Peoria all four years of her college career. Breeding has played both second and third base for the Braves, seeing 207 games of action. She has 140 career hits, 84 RBIs and 59 walks. Breeding has only missed one start since her sophomore year began, playing in every game for Bradley across that span. Breeding earned a spot on the Second Team All-MVC last season.

"She's been a staple in the infield all four years, as her contributions offensively have just continued to grow. We are super excited about where she has finished these last two years," Gambone said. "She's super gritty; she shows up every day. She's willing to run through a brick wall if you absolutely need her to. We are definitely going to miss that presence."

Austin Comstock, like Breeding, has traveled a long way from home and was a Brave all four years of her college career. Comstock has done it all: corner outfield, first base, catcher, pinch hitter, yet for all 50 games this season, she has been the starting designated player, the definition of doing what the coaches need. With 109 hits in her career, Comstock has recorded 49 of them this season alone. She has a career best 20 doubles, nine home runs, 32 RBIs and 16 walks.

"Austin's a huge contributor offensively; she has been our spark plug this year. A high-energy kid, gonna miss her enthusiasm and her passion in the dugout. Off the field as well, she's done a great job in our community, bringing the team together," Gambone said. "These last two years, Austin has helped us out a lot in the bullpen with some catching, doing a tremendous job."

Kinsley Robertson transferred from Des Moines Area Community College following her 2024 season. In her second year with the Braves, she has found her identity. The lone returner from last year's pitching staff, she has seen 73.1 innings of work, fanning 37 batters while earning a 2.43 WHIP.

"Super grateful for Kinsley's leadership skills. She's stood up and spoken out vocally this year and we are appreciative of that. I think a lot of the underclassmen and juniors gravitate towards here. She's really selfless, puts the team first," Gambone said. "I am really excited for what's next for her in her career as well."

The Opponent
The Redbirds are 25-19 on the season, 10-7 on the road. Despite the impressive marks, Illinois State has lost its past six games, six of its last seven in Valley play. Bella Atkinson's .390 batting average is the fifth best in the conference, as Paige McLeod's 17 wins and 2.58 ERA are the second and third best, respectively, in the Valley. Bradley and ISU haven't played a weekend series during either coach's tenure.