Bradley Softball Drops 3-2 Decision

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Junior Kealia Wysocki went 3-for-3 and hit her league-leading seventh home run of the year, but Bradley fell to 3-3 on the year in one-run games with Virginia holding on to top the Braves 3-2 Monday morning to open the final day of the Tennessee Invitational.

Wysocki accounted for three of Bradley’s six hits in the game and slugged her conference-best seventh homer of the year during the second inning in a 3-for-3 outing at the plate which also included a double.  The solo homer was the 20th of Wysocki’s career, moving her into sole possession of second in career home runs at Bradley behind Alyson Clemente’s (2012-16) career record of 21.

Virginia (5-7 overall) wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, pushing two runs across in the bottom of the first.  Hayley Busby singled short to open the inning and stole second.  A one-out home run off the bat of Lacy Smith gave the Cavaliers a 2-0 lead.

Wysocki led off top of the second with a solo homer to left to cut the Virginia lead in half at 2-1 and the Braves mounted a threat in the top of the third.  Back-to-back singles by Brooklyn Bane and Lucy Mead put a pair of runners on, but Virginia was able to turn a double play and a strikeout later in the inning got the Cavaliers out of the jam.

Bailey Winscott led off the bottom of the fifth for Virginia with a single and stole second before she came around to score on a Busby single as the Cavaliers added what would prove to be an important insurance run to take a 3-1 advantage.

In the top of the sixth, senior Gabby Stoner led things off with a double to right center and moved to third on a Virginia error on the play.  A sacrifice fly off the bat of Stacia Seeton drove in Stoner from third and trimmed the Cavaliers’ lead to 3-2.  Wysocki, who homered and singled in her first two at bats, followed with a two-out double to right.  Virginia hurler Allyson Frei got a groundout to get out of the inning without any more damage, however.

Bradley pitcher Megan Mahaffy retired Virginia on eight pitches in the bottom of the sixth to keep it a one-run contest.  The Braves were unable to get anything going in the top of the seventh, with Frei getting a pair of infield pop outs and a groundout to close out the 3-2 win for Virginia.

Teutopolis graduate Allyson Apke drew a walk during the game for Bradley.

Mahaffy scattered six hits in her first complete game effort of the year, striking out one and walking none.

Bradley closes out the Tennessee Invitational today