By Kerra Fisher & Nick Kelly
In game two of the I-74 rivalry between Bradley and Illinois State on Thursday, early offense from the Braves led to easy victory.
The Redbirds threatened with a leadoff double, but a strike out and two ground outs neutralized the damage.
Stacia Seeton put the Braves on the board early with a three-run home run in the bottom half of the frame.
“Home runs are a big deal for us,” Seeton said. “We celebrate each other’s achievements and we just go hard after that. We’re pumped after big hits…I think it really pumped us up for the rest of the game.”
Kealia Wysocki lead off the Bradley second with a home run of her own to put the Braves up 4-0. Elizabeth Leonard followed with a run scoring double after a Taise Thompson single.
“Our mindset after the first game was to come back punch for punch,” Leonard said. “We wanted to start more aggressive than we did the first game.”
However, the Braves’ offensive barrage ended quietly in the third with three ground outs.
Illinois State’s next threat wouldn’t come until the fourth with a walk and a single to start the inning. Riley Strandgard capitalized with a line drive single to score a run. A double play for the Braves ended the inning, but not without another run crossing the plate, making it 5-2.
Leonard found herself on base again in the Braves’ fourth, stealing two bases to put herself in scoring position. The Bradley offense failed to convert after Allison Apke flew out to right to end the inning.
Bradley added some insurance in the sixth with a Leonard walk. She moved to third on two passed balls before Maria Schroeder drove her in with a sacrifice fly to right, making the score 6-2.
“I just saw [the ball] better,” Leonard said. “The zone I had was the same zone the umpire created, so it was easier to go with what my gut was saying.”
Illinois State made noise in the seventh with a pair of singles before the Braves made their first pitching change tasking Thompson with the last two outs.
Riley Hale took advantage of the new arm, driving in a run with a single down the first base line. The rally was short lived though, as a ground out to second ended the contest with Bradley coming out on top 6-3.
Leonard got herself on base in three of four plate appearances, scoring two runs for the Braves.
“When we play at our highest we know we’re going to win,” junior Julie Kestas said. “Our goal from here on out is to take every series like we know how.”
The Braves are back in action Saturday, opening a three game series with Southern Illinois. The teams will open with a double header at the Petersen Hotels Field at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex. First pitch is set for noon.