May 9, 2008

Box Score

PEORIA, Ill. -

            The University of Northern Iowa baseball team escaped with a 4-2 win over Bradley Friday night at O'Brien Field. Guido Fonseca pitched 8.0 innings for UNI, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out nine to improve to 8-1 on the season. The win guarantees the Panthers (27-18, 12-7) their first berth in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament since 2003.

            Brett Douglas was 2-of-4 with an RBI and two runs scored for UNI. Joe Gonzalez pitched a hitless inning of relief to earn his ninth save of the year.

            Chris Wright gave up three runs, none of them earned, in seven innings to be charged with the loss for Bradley (25-22, 9-10).

            Rob Elliot hit a double into left center on the first pitch of the bottom of the first. He moved to third on a ground out, and a slow grounder to short by Dan Brewer sent him home and put the Braves on the board first, 1-0.

            Neither team scored again until the top of the fourth. Dane Embury led off the inning with a fly ball into left that went off the glove of left fielder Grant Escue. Embury reached second on the error, but was tagged out on a ground ball by Brandon Douglas. Brett Featherston drew a two-out walk to put runners on second and third, and Brett Douglas singled into right to score Brandon Douglas and move Featherston to third. Bradley pitcher Chris Wright was charged with a balk, scoring Featherston and moving Brett Douglas to second. Travis Hendrix singled up the middle to score Brett Douglas and put UNI in front, 3-1.

            Elliot hit a sharp ground ball down the left line to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Travis Hendrix was able to make a backhanded grab behind third base, but his throw was just up the line and Featherston could not make the tag to give Elliot the infield single. He moved to second on a balk by Fonseca and scored on a single up the middle by Dan Brewer to cut the Panther lead to 3-2. Colby Luttrell hit an infield single, and both runners moved on a wild pitch to give the Braves runners at second and third with one out. Fonseca struck out Jim Clayton, and he fielded a ground ball by Nick Mitidiero to end the inning with the Panthers holding a one-run lead.

            Bradley had the tying run reach third in the bottom of the seventh after Matt Fritz reached on a one-out error, and then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Fonseca was able to strike out Mike Brumleve and got Chris Gordon to fly out to end the inning.

            UNI put runners on first and second with nobody out in the top of the eighth when Embury drew a walk and Brandon Douglas hit an infield single. Bradley was able to turn a double play and get Featherston to ground out to end the inning without a Panther run.

            The Panthers were able to add an insurance run when Brett Douglas reached on a throwing error to lead off the top of the ninth. Hendrix put down a sacrifice bunt to move him to second, and Eddie Almonte singled through the right side to score Douglas and bring the score to 4-2.

            Hendrix made back-to-back single-stealing plays at third, and Joe Gonzalez struck out Elliot to retire the Braves in order and seal the win for UNI.

            UNI outhit Bradley, 7-5. UNI left six men on base, while the Braves stranded eight. The Panthers also collected four stolen bases in the win.

            The Panthers and Braves will play game two of the three-game series Saturday at 6 p.m.