PEORIA, Ill. -- Fighting Illini baseball (18-19) led late but ultimately fell, 7-6, to Bradley (13-23) on Tuesday night at Dozer Park.
Illinois jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first when Ryan Moerman lined a ball back up the middle on an 0-2 count with the bases loaded and two outs.
The Braves evened up the contest their first time to the plate, but the Illini quickly regained the lead in the second through a two-out RBI-single off of the bat of Branden Comia. Once again, the hosts were up to the task in the home half, scoring once to make it a 3-3 game.
Illinois took the lead again in the fourth, starting the inning with a lead-off double from Christian Smith, who was brought home via an RBI-single by Cal Hejza. Hejza would make it a 5-3 ballgame when he scored on a wild pitch later in the frame. Bradley would scratch a run across in the home half of the inning to keep it a one-run game.
The Illini would push the advantage back to two in the sixth when Drake Westcott doubled into the right-center gap to bring in Camden Janik, making it 6-4. The Braves again had an answer, scratching a run across the plate to make it 6-5 after six.
The two sides traded scoreless seventh innings, with Gabe Helder and John Lundgren combining to strike out the side after the stretch. Helder, making his first appearance since Feb. 19 at Wake Forest, struck out the first-two batters he faced for the first punchouts of his collegiate career.
After the Illini were held in the eighth, the Braves led off the inning with three-straight hits, scoring twice to take a 7-6 lead in the ninth. Cam McDonald, representing the tying run, would reach on an error to start the final frame, but was left stranded at second.
Fighting Illini baseball will be back in action on Friday, where they take on Ohio State at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
» Branden Comia went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
    » First three-hit game of the season.
» Camden Janik went 1-for-3 with a run and a pair of walks.
    » Has drawn at least one walk in five-straight games...has two multi-walk games during that span.
» Drake Westcott went 1-for-4 with a run, double and an RBI.
    » Extended his hitting streak to six games...has gone 7-for-20 (.350) during that span with a double, two home runs and four RBI.
» Ryan Moerman went 1-for-4 with two RBI and was hit by a pitch.
    » Snapped a seven-game skid without recording an RBI.
    » Extended his hitting streak to four games...has gone 7-for-19 (.368) during that span.
» Alex Vera worked 3.0 innings of one-run ball in relief, allowing just one hit.
    » 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
» Illinois pitchers faced 42 Bradley hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and three fly balls while striking out 11.
» The Fighting Illini drew five walks from Bradley pitching.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
