TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Leslie Sims only had one hit Sunday but she made that one hit count. With two outs, runners on second and third and the game tied at 5-5 in the fifth inning, Sims laid down a bunt back to the pitcher and raced down the line to beat the throw, sending the winning run across the plate as Indiana State completed its comeback in a 6-5 win over Bradley Sunday.
 
The offensive rally was only possible thanks to five lockdown innings in relief by Della Gher (3-2), allowing only two hits, no walks and tied a career-high four strikeouts. The sophomore finished the game by retiring Bradley's last seven batters.
 
The Braves (15-19, 4-6 Missouri Valley) trailed by only one run in the seventh with the top of the order due up, a trio that had collectively gone 4-for-9 at that point. But Bradley couldn't get the ball out of the infield as Gher and a solid defense forced a pop up sandwiched in between a pair of easy groundouts.
 
Indiana State (17-17, 5-6) trailed early after allowing five runs in the third. The Sycamores stormed back in the bottom half of the inning with four RBI singles and a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Neither team scored again until the sixth, when Sims' bunt allowed Rebecca Gibbs to score from third.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Della Gher gets the nod with her standout performance in the circle. Entering in the third inning as Indiana State was desperate to stop Bradley's scoring, she was cool under pressure and only allowed two hits out of the Braves the rest of the game. Gher matched a career-best four strikeouts and did not issue a walk in the contest.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
Indiana State's 13 hits tied a season high and were the most in a game since recording 13 hits against Tennessee State on Mar. 11.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Della Gher, Indiana State (3-2)
• Loss: Julie Kestas, Bradley (4-7)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 17-17 (5-6 MVC)
• Bradley: 15-19 (4-6 MVC)

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 34-63 all-time against Bradley.
• The Sycamores tied a season high with 13 hits in the game.
• Michael Perniciaro is now 12-8 all-time as a head coach against Bradley.
• With the win, the Sycamores ended a five-game losing streak, the longest of the season.
• Indiana State is now 8-5 in one-run games this season.
• Shaye Barton tied a career-high with three hits.
• Mallory Marsicek recorded a career-best three hits.
• Della Gher tied a career-high four strikeouts.

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