May 15, 2002

Stats

Peoria, Ill. - The University of Illinois baseball team fell 6-2 to Bradley University Wednesday afternoon at Pete Vonachen Stadium in Peoria. Illinois dropped to 31-16 while Bradley improved to 17-35 on the year.

Illinois and Bradley played scoreless baseball until the bottom of the third inning when BU put runners on first and second with no one out. Anticipating a bunt, Illinois and starter Justin Olson saw rightfielder Ryan Kenny hit a three-run home run over the right field fence to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.

Bradley added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth off Olson before he was relieved by Josh Lane. Lane would throw 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief before giving way to Tim Gorski and Josh Gold, who threw a scoreless seventh and eighth, respectively.

Illinois got on the board for the first time in the top of the sixth inning when Drew Davidson connected with a home run to left, his ninth of the year and first in over a month.

Illinois got its second run when Davidson was hit by a pitch in the eighth and scored on a Trevor Frederickson single.

Olson (3-2) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. Bradley starter Mike Jakubowski earned the win, throwing six innings and allowing one run on three hits to improve to 4-5 on the season.

Illinois returns to action this weekend with a four-game series against Iowa in Iowa City. The games are the last of Illinois' regular season and the team will be attempting to secure its seventh straight bid to the Big Ten Tournament.