PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — Brandon Bak pitched six strong innings and Thomas Curry drove in four runs as Illinois-Chicago defeated Bradley 11-4 on Friday, May 15, 2026, in a Missouri Valley Conference game at Dozer Park.

The Flames improved to 24-26-1, while the Braves fell to 10-45-1. Illinois-Chicago, which won the series opener 8-3 the previous day, jumped ahead early with three unearned runs in the first inning, capitalizing on a dropped fly ball by Braves left fielder Luke Skinner that allowed Ashton Kampa to reach third base. Curry then grounded out to shortstop, scoring Kampa, and Jake Busson followed with a solo home run to left-center field that made it 2-0. The Flames added another run later in the inning on a throwing error.

Bradley answered in the second inning when Angelo Aleman led off with a solo home run to left field, trimming the deficit to 3-1. The Braves added a run in the fourth on a double by Peyton Nelson that scored Aleman, who had walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Bradley trailed 3-2.

Illinois-Chicago extended its lead in the top of the fourth inning. Vidal Colon walked and scored on a single by Curry, and after a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch, the Flames grabbed a 4-2 advantage. Bradley starter Davis Webb was replaced by Calen Scheider after three-plus innings.

The Braves had a chance to tie or take the lead in the fifth, but stranded a runner at third when Hayden Miller struck out swinging for the third time. Bak, who allowed two runs on five hits over six innings, struck out seven and walked three.

The game’s decisive moment came in the top of the eighth inning. With the score still 4-2, Illinois-Chicago loaded the bases against reliever Josh Vaughn. Curry delivered a two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Alexander Wright and Vidal Colon, and then Lucas Smith homered to left field, a two-run blast, giving the Flames an 8-2 lead. Both runs were unearned after a throwing error on a fielder’s choice sustained the inning.

Bradley countered in the bottom of the seventh, before the eighth-inning outburst, when Landon Lowe singled and scored on a Michael Quick single, cutting the lead to 4-3. Lowe’s hit also brought home Skinner, who had reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced on a wild pitch. Quick’s RBI made it 4-3, but the Braves could get no closer.

Illinois-Chicago added three more runs in the top of the ninth inning. Alexander Wright doubled to left center, scoring Sean Cody and Colin Husko, and then came home on a sacrifice fly by Will Flanigan. The Flames finished with 10 hits, while Bradley had eight.

Bak earned the win, and Mark Eddie pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Flames, striking out two. Jared Lessman worked the seventh, allowing two runs on two hits. For Bradley, Scheider took the loss after allowing four runs in three innings of relief. Josh Vaughn and Luke Leverton also pitched for the Braves.

The Braves’ best offensive threat came in the third inning, when Landon Lowe singled and Michael Quick doubled, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but Miller struck out to end the inning. Bradley also left the bases loaded in the second inning after Aleman’s home run.

Illinois-Chicago has now won six of its last seven games, including a series win over Illinois State earlier in the week. Bradley has lost 10 of its last 11 games. The two teams conclude their three-game series Saturday, May 16, at Dozer Park.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Illinois-Chicago 6, Bradley 2, and its ELO system gave the Flames a 67.50 percent probability to win.