The Bradley Bears picked up a much needed victory Thursday night traveling to Chattanooga Central and returning with a 6-1 win over the Purple Pounders.

Robbie Works, Jordan Whitmire, Nate Mills and Jonathan Hodges combined to scatter five hits in the win. Works picked up the win throwing the first 3 1/3 innings.

Bradley opened the game by taking advantage of Central starter Casey Sowders’ wildness to push across two runs in the first. Brentley White and Dylan Johnston each received free passes before Jacob Fowler delivered the first of his three hits to drive in both runners.

The Bears added a run in the second when Jacob Maynard reached base on an error and moved to second after Cal Pickel beat out an infield hit. White was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Johnston plated Maynard with a sacrifice fly.

Central cut into the lead with a single run in the home half of the fourth. Colton Morgan singled, Dylan Jones walked with one out and coach Travis Adams summoned Whitmire from the bullpen. Following a fielder’s choice to load the bases, the Pounders pushed across their lone run of evening on an errant throw to the plate. Whitmire escaped further damage by getting Sowder to fly out to left fielder Baylor Terrell and forcing Jonathan Rievely to ground out to first baseman Chase Wiseman.

Bradley tacked on another run in the fifth when Whitmire doubled, Fowler singled and Caleb Pippenger walked to load the bases. Maynard drove in courtesy runner Beasley Tarver with a sacrifice fly.

The Bears put the game out of reach with a pair of runs in the sixth. White singled ahead of consecutive walks to Johnston, Wiseman and Whitmire to force in a run. Johnston scored the final run on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Fowler.

“Central has a good ballclub and I was proud of our pitchers holding them to one run. We had chances to break the game open, but just couldn't come up the big hit” said Adams.

Bradley improved its record to 12-10 while Central dropped to 12-7. The Bears return to district play Monday hosting Rhea County in the first of a two-game series. The junior varsityu game begins at 4 p.m. with the varsity game set to start at 7.

BEARS 6, PURPLE POUNDERS 1

Bradley 210 012 0 — 6 8 2

Central 000 100 0 — 1 5 2

WP: Works (3-1) . LP: Sowder (0-1). 2B: Whitmire (B) Tyler Lowe (CC). Hhighlights: Fowler 3-4 , 2 RBI Whitmire 1-1, RBI White 1-2 run, Johnston 2 runs, RBI.