Brakettes Suffer First Setback of 2007 Season

July 10, 2007 - The Brakettes dropped a 5-0 decision to the Philadelphia Force on Tuesday night, in Allentown, PA, as a four-run Philly second inning was too much for the red and white to overcome. While the Brakettes could not produce a run, they managed six hits off of Philadelphia starter Kristina Thorson. (Box Score and Play by Play)

Brandice Balschmiter started and went three innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk. Balschmiter gave way to Candice Freel in the fourth, who took to the mound in a familiar setting, as she threw for the Force last season. Freel pitched the last three innings, giving up one more run.

Kellie Wilkerson helped the Force defeat her former team, drawing a walk to start the second inning rally, eventually scoring the first run of the contest. She also lined a single in the third. Emily Friedman collected two hits for Philly, while Trena Peel singled, walked, and scored twice. She also had an RBI and a stolen base.

Wilkerson's walk came after Balschmiter jumped ahead with a 1-2 count. Wilkerson battled back to a full count, fouling off numerous quality Balschmiter offerings, before taking her free pass. Clare Burnum followed with a sacrifice bunt, but both runners were safe by virtue of a Brakette fielding error. Stacie Pestrak then successfully moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt of her own. With runners at second and third, Ashley Smith lined a single to right-center to score two runs. Smith came home on a single by Peel, who stole second and then scored on a throwing error. The last run came in the Force fourth inning, when Peel walked and went to third on Freidman's single. Sharonda McDonald grounded back to Freel, and Peel came home on the throw to first.

The Brakettes seemed to get off to a solid start, as Sari-Jane Jenkins led off the first with an infield single. She took second when Denise Denis grounded back to Thorson, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. She was stranded at third, however, as Courtney Bures grounded out to third. The Brakettes threatened again in the fourth, when Bures and catcher Killian Roessner led off the inning with consecutive singles. Whitney Mollica then grounded to Friedman at second base, who tagged Roessner and threw to first for the double play. Bures went to third, but was left there, as Beth Boden struck out. Boden, Denis, and Mandie Fishback also hit safely for the Brakettes.

The loss dropped the Brakettes to 35-1 on the season, and ended a 56-game ASA winning streak dating back to last July 19th.

The two squads will suit up again on Wednesday night for game two of the four-game set, at 7:05 PM, at ECTB Stadium at BiCentennial Park in Allentown, PA.