PEORIA, Ill. – Indiana State jumped out to an early lead but couldn't stop a late Bradley rally in an 8-7 loss in the first game of a Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader in Peoria Saturday.
 
The Sycamores (16-31, 4-18 MVC) held a 6-1 lead midway through the fourth before Bradley (26-18, 13-8) began to mount its comeback with a single run in the bottom of the fourth. Stacia Seeton's two-run home run in the fifth, her second round-tripper of the game, cut the Sycamore lead to 7-4 after Annie Tokarek's solo home run added a run for ISU in the top of the fifth. Seeton would lead Bradley with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with three runs and three RBI.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, back-to-back extra-base hits led off the inning for the host Braves, scoring one run, before an RBI single two batters later pulled Bradley within one. Heads up base running on the next base hit would tie the game for Bradley as pinch runner Carly Chovanec advanced to third then scored on the throw to tie the game. A strikeout later and facing two outs, Bradley's Kealia Wysocki doubled to left center to plate the winning run.
 
Shaye Barton would rip a leadoff single in the top of the seventh to put the tying run aboard but in a weird sequence of events that included two overthrows by Bradley's defense and a close play at second, Barton was tagged out in her attempt to advance. The next at bat, Bella Peterson smoked a double to the left field corner but she would get stranded there as the final two outs of the game were recorded.
 
Arielle Blankenship (6-10) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in the final inning of play. She struck out one batter and did not issue a walk.
 
Julie Kestas (7-3) claimed the win in a complete game performance, allowing seven runs on 10 hits as she walked two and struck out six.
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME
With a 2-for-4 plate appearance, a play at first that was a very close call that was ruled an out, a run scored and a stolen base to her credit, Leslie Sims claims this honor. Her swipe marked her 30^th stolen base of the year and 76^th stolen base in her career.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
With Bailey Martin and Leslie Sims each swiping at least one base, this marks the sixth consecutive game Indiana State has stolen multiple bases in a single game.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD

• Win: Julie Kestas, Bradley (7-3)
• Loss: Arielle Blankenship, Indiana State (6-10)
• Save: None

RECORDS UPDATE

• Indiana State: 16-31 (4-18 MVC)
• Bradley: 26-18 (13-8 MVC)

NOTABLES  

• Indiana State falls to 34-65 against Bradley all-time with a 14-31 mark in Peoria.
• Brooke Mann threw out her 16^th runner attempting to steal this season, a new single season school record and mark that leads the Missouri Valley Conference this year.
• Annie Tokarek's solo blast in the fifth inning marked her second career home run.
• Leslie Sims recorded her 30^th stolen base of the season and the 76^th stolen base of her career.
• The three doubles recorded by Sycamore batters in the game marked the most since recording four doubles at Loyola Chicago on April 7.
• This marked the sixth straight game Indiana State has stolen multiple bases in a game.

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