WICHITA -- Bradley pitcher Ashley Birdsong struck out 11 and Amanda Clack and Lauren Meister each recorded two RBI as the Braves (8-5, 2-1) took the series from Wichita State (19-12, 1-2) on the opening weekend of Missouri Valley Conference softball Sunday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium.

With the loss, the Shockers lost their Valley-opening series for the first time since being swept by Creighton in two games to open conference play in 2000.

Bradley wasted no time getting on the board, taking a quick 2-0 lead after Janay Mitchell floated a one-out double just past the glove of Jamie Hull at third and came home on a home run by Amanda Clack. The shot gave BU an early lead on WSU for the second-straight game after putting up a 6-0 lead before the Shockers stepped to the plate in game two yesterday.

WSU responded quickly when Britnee Barnett ripped a single up the middle to bring home Katie McGeeney who was on second after leading the bottom of the first off with a single through the right side before getting to second on Kara L'Huillier's eighth sacrifice of the season. Barnett's team-high 31st RBI cut the Bradley lead in half, 2-1, but WSU missed a golden opportunity after leaving the bases loaded.

Three-straight one-out walks could have come back to haunt Shocker ace Ashly Bright (11-8) in the second, but freshman catcher Heather Gerritse made a sensational throw to the outside shoulder of first baseman Jamie Stanclift, who reached around to pick off Lauren Kelly to provide the second out. Bright then promptly struck out leadoff hitter Miriam Wegmann to get out of the jam with no harm done.

Kara L'Huillier provided another defensive gem in the third as she stole a blooping hit to right-center from Clack with a great diving grab for the second out.

The Shockers grabbed the lead in the fourth when Katie McGeeney took an 0-2 pitch from Ashley Birdsong and bounced it just short of the center field wall for a two-out double that brought home Caley Roberts and Lauren Coleman to give WSU a 3-2 lead.

Gerritse provided more excitement when she picked off another runner in the fifth, after Denise Jilka reached on a leadoff walk and got caught leaning away from first when Gerritse threw down to L'Huillier waiting at the bag for the tag and the first out of the inning.

Bradley returned the favor in the sixth, tying the game after Clack doubled and came home on a single by Lauren Meister, tying the game 3-3 after six.

The Braves threatened early in the seventh when Bradley got a pair of singles from Trish Kowalewski and Jilka top put two runners on with nobody out. A sacrifice bunt by Lauren Kelly put both runners in scoring position before Bright struck out the leadoff hitter Wegmann looking for the second out of the inning. Janay Mitchell then pushed a bunt to Jamie Hull at third and she made the throw to first in time for the out, avoiding a run in the top of the seventh.

WSU went down in order in the seventh to force the game to extra innings, and Bradley played the spoiler after Clack opened the eighth with a walk, advanced to second on the sacrifice and came around to score on a single to center by Meister that provided the winning run 4-3.

Birdsong (6-2) struck out the side in the eighth to secure the game and the series for the Braves. The Bradley ace worked all eight innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts.

Bright took the loss for the Shockers, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits while walking five and striking out six.

WSU returns to action at 3 p.m., Wednesday with a doubleheader at Memphis.