Junior Alex Chandler went 4-for-5 and hit a walk-off two-run home run in the ninth inning to help Bradley rally for a 5-3 victory in the series opener against Indiana State, while senior Mackenzie Camp followed it with a three-hit, complete game shutout in a 2-0 BU win in the night cap as the Braves swept a doubleheader from the Sycamores Friday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park. Bradley (18-12 overall, 3-1 MVC) is 3-1 to open Missouri Valley Conference play for the first time since 2000 and the Braves improved to 9-3 in their last 12 games with Friday’s victories. In the opener, Bradley had to rally from a 3-1 deficit to force extra innings and Chandler delivered the big hit of the day with a two-run, walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth to propel the Braves to a 5-3 extra-inning victory. Freshman Rachel Huggins gave BU an early 1-0 lead with a RBI single in the bottom of the second inning and Bradley threatened to break the game open after loading the bases with no outs later in the inning. Junior Madeline Lynch-Crumrine scattered three hits over the first five innings, before Indiana State managed to push a pair of runs across in the top of the sixth to go in front 2-1. Alex Lucas ripped a pinch hit, two-out double to left to drive in a pair of runs and the Sycamores had a 3-1 lead after Morgan Allee belted a one-out homer in the top of the seventh.
-Bob
Bradley capitalized on three Evansville errors to post a 6-0 win in the second game of a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader against the Purple Aces Saturday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park, after Evansville took the opener 5-1. Sophomore Madeline Lynch-Crumrine scattered four hits over six and one-third innings in the nightcap in addition to going 2-for-3 with a run and RBI to help the Braves snap a five-game game losing skid. Lynch-Crumrine pitched 8.1 scoreless innings in the two games and earned the win in the circle in the second game. Sophomore catcher Bailiegh Basham hit a two run home-run in the second game for the Braves. Game One Box Score, Game Two Box Score.
-Bob
Creighton University freshman Bri Lingl was 4-for-7 with three runs batted in, including an eighth-inning home run in the nightcap, leading the visiting Bluejays (11-10, 2-0 MVC) to a doubleheader sweep at Bradley (10-14, 0-2 MVC) in Missouri Valley Conference softball action Saturday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park. With the score tied, 1-1, the Braves had a chance to earn a walk-off win in the second game after center fielder Julie Sherman legged out a 1-out single and took second on a Jackie Roth sacrifice bunt. Creighton pitched around catcher Bailiegh Basham, who drew five walks in the doubleheader, setting the stage for Madeline Lynch-Crumrine. The sophomore designated player delivered with a line drive single into left field, but Creighton’s Ellen Homan fielded the ball on one hop and her throw home beat Sherman to force the extra inning. Click here for Final Stats: Game #1 Box Score, Game #2 Box Score.
-Bob
