MACOMB, Ill. - Trailing 2-0, Bradley (13-11-1)
used a five-run seventh inning to win the series finale, 7-4, over Western
Illinois (8-14) Sunday (April 1) at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium.
Western Illinois starter Nick Smith (3-2) retired 15 out of
the first 17 batters he faced. His no-hitter was broken up in the sixth inning
and he could not escape the seventh inning. He allowed five runs on six hits
and struck out six Braves over 6 2/3 innings.
Bradley starter John Nasshan lasted five innings and allowed
two runs on five hits. He struck out four Leathernecks and walked two. Steve
Adkins (1-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Ryan Cowhey drove in two runs while Dan Dispensa (2-for-5)
scored and stole a base, his fourth of the season. Cowhey has reached base in
17 consecutive contests. Matt Igara (1-for-4) drove in a run in the fifth
inning to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Vince Howard drove in Danny Marcuzzo with a double and scored a run in the ninth inning.
Cowhey broke the scoreless tie with a solo home run in the
third inning. With the count even at 2-2, Cowhey lifted a high fly ball inside
the left field foul pole for his first home run of the season.
Dispensa's leadoff single in the fifth inning led to
Western's second run. He stole second and was sacrificed to third by Austin Cowen. Igara followed with a one-out single to centerfield and Dispensa trotted
home.
Smith was cruising until the seventh inning when Bradley
scored five runs on six hits. A leadoff single came around on Derek Sprout's
one-out single. A walk and infield single loaded the bases for Mike Tauchman,
who doubled into the left center field gap to clear the bases.
Seth Fuller relieved Smith with two outs in the seventh
inning and allowed a run to score on two consecutive singles. Fuller finished
out the contest by allowing two runs on six hits over 2 1/3 innings.
Western plays two non-conference midweek games before Summit
League play, beginning with St. Ambrose on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Boyer
Stadium.
#WIUAthletics
