Brakettes Outshine Stars as Freel, Balschmiter Both Improve to 9-0

June 21, 2007 - The Brakettes hung on for a 1-0 victory in the first game, then blasted their way to an 8-0 romp in the second, as the team improved to 18-0 for the season. The Connecticut Stars gave the Brakettes their most competitive game of the year, only to suffer a close defeat. Candice Freel made the most of the one run she was spotted in the first inning, allowing just two hits in the early contest. She had good command throughout, striking out five and walking none. Chelsea Bramlett led off the home first with a bunt single, and then stole second. She was sent home from second on a Mandy Fishback single, and that run stood as the only tally for either team.

Freel allowed a single to opposing pitcher Breanne Gleason in the second inning, but struck out the next two batters to retire the side. The only other hit for the Stars was a one-out double by Lauren Cecchi in the third. Megan Capriosi sacrifice bunted Cecchi to third, but Freel induced a grounder to short to end the inning.

Bramlett had three hits for the game, and Stephanie Hill added a double in the sixth.

Brandice Balschmiter, who came in having thrown two consecutive no-hitters, gave up just one hit, as Capriosi smacked a single up the middle in the second. Balschmiter struck out six in the nightcap, which lasted five innings due to the mercy rule. The Brakettes again scored one in the first, but followed with a six-run explosion in the third, with the eighth and final run coming in the fifth.

Sari-Jane Jenkins singled in the first, then scored on Courtney Bures' groundout to short. Jenkins and Fishback both scored when Bures bolted a triple to center in the third, extending the lead to 3-0. Beth Boden dropped a single into shallow center, scoring Bures to make it 4-0. After Denise Denis beat out a bunt, loading the bases, Jill Cimminello drilled a single to score two runs and put the Brakettes up 6-0. Denis scored on a wild pitch to go up 7-0, and Balschmiter retired the next six batters she faced, setting the table for the fifth inning.

Cimminello added another single in the fifth, then moved to second on a passed ball. She moved to third when Bramlett grounded out to first, then scored the final Brakette run when Fishback singled to left. Boden had two hits and a walk in the late game, and Bures had two hits and 3 RBI.

The Brakettes will play host to the Dominican Republic National Team this weekend, with doubleheaders scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00, and Sunday night at 6:00.