Box Score FRESNO, Calif. - Bradley scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh and had the game-tying run on second base, but the Braves rally attempt fell short as Fresno State topped BU 3-2 Tuesday night in non-conference softball action.
Fresno State (14-5 overall) used a three-run third inning to take a 3-0 lead. Brooke Ortiz had a one-out single and Michelle Moses followed with her sixth home run of the season with a bomb to left center. A single by Courtney Moore chased Bradley starter Mackenzie Camp (Mapleton, Ill./Limestone) from the game and Moore came around to score on a single by Caitlin Stiglich.
Bradley (7-18 overall) went into the top of the seventh inning trailing 3-0, before mounting a rally. Junior Alison Kresl (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara) collected her second hit of the game with a one-out infield single and the Braves had runners at second and third after a Kate Singler (Witt, Ill./Nokomis/Heartland C.C.) single.
Junior Jackie Roth (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) drove in Kresl and Singler with a two-out single to cut the Fresno State lead to one run (3-2) and later stole second. Bradley could not push another run across, however, and fell to the Bulldogs 3-2.
Camp suffered the loss for Bradley, dropping to 3-5 on the year. Freshman Madeline Lynch-Crumrine (Sedro-Woolley, Wash./Sedro-Woolley) pitched three and two-third scoreless innings in relief of Camp. Mackenzie Oakes earned the victory for the Bulldogs to improve to 8-2. Oakes struck out two and gave up two runs (one earned) in seven innings of work.
Bradley returns to action this weekend, opening Missouri Valley Conference play with a three-game series against I-74 rival Illinois State. The Braves and Redbirds open the three-game set with a noon doubleheader in Normal, Ill.
