The Iowa Hawkeyes completed a season sweep over Bradley on Tuesday night as they cruised to a 15-8 home win.
The first meeting between the two teams – a 9-8 Iowa win in 11 innings on April 6 – was characterized by inconsistent pitching. A grand slam from Bradley junior outfielder Ryan Vogel was the highlight in that affair, which also served as the Braves’ home opener at Dozer Park.
Offense also took center stage in the rematch, though not in the way the Braves would have liked. Bradley claimed a 2-1 lead in the second inning with a two-run triple from freshman infielder Cal McGinnis, but home runs from Iowa’s Will Mulfur and Peyton Williams in the third and fourth innings, respectively, put the Hawkeyes ahead 6-3.
The Braves weren’t done offensively, as junior infielder Connor Manthey plated two runs with a single in the fifth inning but the Hawkeyes never trailed again. Iowa scored at least one run in every inning except the second and a six-run seventh inning, paced by a three-RBI double from Williams, essentially put the game out of reach.
As is typical for a midweek game, the two teams combined to use a multitude of pitchers – 15 to be exact – over the course of the evening. The Braves used six, with starting pitcher and reigning MVC Pitcher of the Week Nick King being the only one to not surrender an earned run.
Freshman pitcher John Day was tagged with the loss after pitching two-thirds of an inning and allowing four runs, all of which were earned.
The Braves are back in action for a three-day weekend series at Illinois State. The series begins tonight at 5 p.m. at Duffy Bass Field in Normal.
