By: Down only two runs after the top of the third, the Blueboys gave up 14 unanswered runs to fall in their first game against Division I opposition this season.
Box Score
PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois College baseball team dropped to 9-5 on the season on Saturday following a 17-1 loss to Bradley University in seven innings. Down 3-1 going to the bottom of the third, the Blueboys gave up 14 straight runs to the Braves to fall via the run-rule after the top of the seventh.
Cain Brady collected the first of his two hits in the top of the first inning but he ended the frame still stuck on first. Bradley struck first with one run against starter
Tyler Kozaritz (1-1) in the bottom half with consecutive doubles from their third and fourth hitters in the lineup to take a 1-0 lead.
In the second, Bradley upped its lead to 3-0 after loading the bases with no outs in the inning. Kozaritz was able to strike out the next two hitters swinging, but a double brought two runs in before the Blueboys could get out of the inning.
The lone run of the afternoon came in the third for IC.
Bryce Rooney started a two-out rally with a single to right and
Austin Peck followed him with an infield single. Brady then doubled to score Rooney before
Dalton Kerans hit a line drive straight to first base to end the side with the score at 3-1.
Things fell apart for Illinois College in the bottom half of the inning. Bradley plated six runs against Kozaritz to make it 9-1 before the sophomore got out of it. The Braves then added three more runs in the fourth and five in the fifth against reliever
Dentler Loschen to increase the margin to 17-1. Though
Dylan Jones threw a perfect sixth, the Blueboys couldn't get any further offense going and the game ended after the top of the seventh.
Illinois College will come home to Joe Brooks Baseball Field on April 6 for a non-conference doubleheader against Lincoln Christian University starting at 2 p.m.
