Bradley University (25-24-1) ace left-hander Joe Bircher cruised into the eighth inning riding a 4-hitter, but Dallas Baptist (38-16) rallied for three runs in the eighth to earn a 5-4 victory in the opener of a 3-game series Thursday night at O’Brien Field. The Braves, which has won a school-record 11 1-run decisions this season, dropped its season-long seventh consecutive game, including the last four by one run each. Though he struck out a season-low two hitters, Bircher (7-3) did move into sole possession of third place on the school’s single-season strikeout list by pushing his season total to 104. The 104 strikeouts are the most by a Bradley pitcher since Wyman Carey, who was in attendance Thursday night for a pregame ceremony, fanned the school-record 120 hitters in 1956.
-Bob
The Metamora Lady Redbirds (29-3, 12-1) scored a unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning without a hit to defeat the Washington Panthers 2-1 in Mid-Illini softball Tuesday afternoon. Junior Erica Phillips threw a one-hitter with six strikeouts, went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in the first inning.
-Bob
The Peoria Chiefs behind another strong pitching performance from lefty Kyler Burke defeated the Burlington Bees 2-1 before 1,367 fans. Both of the Chiefs runs came by way of sacrifice flies. In the fourth, designated hitter Taylor Davis drove in Ryan Cuneo, who walked and then took third on Anthony Giansanti’s single. Burlington scored their only run in the third when B.A. Vollmuth drove in Sean Jamieson, who doubled. The victory gives Peoria its first four-game winning streak of the season. Click here for complete game stats.
-Bob
With a sellout crowd of 7,142 in attendance for Star Wars night at the ballpark, starter PJ Francescon put on a show of his own leading the Peoria Chiefs to a dominating 2-1 win over the Burlington Bees Saturday night. Despite the win, the game saw the end of Paul Hoilman’s franchise-record 24-game hit streak which began on April 14th. The Chiefs took advantage of some faulty defense in the bottom of the third. After walking his fifth batter of the game to start the frame, Burlington starter Raul Alcantara hurled an errant pickoff throw to first allowing Zeke DeVoss to scoot all the way to third. Taiwan Easterling was unable to get one past the drawn in infield but another errant throw from shortstop Sean Jamieson allowed DeVoss to cross home giving Peoria a 1-0 lead without recording a hit. After back-to-back flyouts, Easterling stole second and was brought home on a RBI single by Wes Darvill extending the Chiefs’ lead to 2-0. Click for complete game stats.
-Bob
On the night Paul Hoilman set the franchise record for longest hit streak in team history at 22, the Peoria Chiefs were unable to take advantage of another quality start from Kyler Burke as they fell 2-1 to the Beloit Snappers Wednesday night at Peoria Chiefs Stadium before 2,370 fans. The Snappers jumped out to a lead in the top of the third. Rory Rhodes singled and advanced to second on a balk by Burke. A groundout moved Rhodes to third before Adam Pettersen joined him on the base paths with a one-out walk. Leadoff hitter Wang Wei-Lin brought home Rhodes slapping a ground ball past the diving Wes Darvill at third to open the scoring at 1-0. After setting franchise record for longest hitting streak in his first at bat, Paul Hoilman was at it again in the fourth. The first baseman tripled with one out off Steven Gruver (2-3) and trotted home with a sac fly from Taylor Davis knotting the score at 1-1. Beloit got their lead back in the seventh. After hitting the leadoff hitter Jonathan Goncalves, Burke allowed a bloop single to Rhodes, Kyle Knudson followed with a sac bunt while reaching on a fielders’ choice to load the bases for Adam Pettersen. Pettersen gave Beloit the lead with a sac fly down the right field line that allowed Goncalves to tag and score giving Beloit a 2-1 lead. Click here for the complete game stats.
-Bob
