Bats Propel Brakettes Past Impact

August 5, 2007 - The Brakettes found themselves tested Sunday night by the Indiana Impact, but exploded for seven runs with two outs in the sixth, and won a run-rule shortened contest 9-1. What had been a close game quickly got out of hand, as the Brakettes used six hits in the inning to pace the offensive attack.

Leslie Malerich recorded the victory, striking out seven in six innings, surrendering a solo shot to Alexia Clay in the fourth for the lone Impact run. The shot over the left field wall was one of two hits allowed by Malerich.

Whitney Mollica scored the first run for the Brakettes in the home second, after leading off the inning with a double. She made her way to third when a pitch from Ali Pettit got away from Clay. With one out, Beth Boden looped a pitch into shallow center, scoring Mollica, and putting the Brakettes up 1-0.

The lead extended to 2-0 in the third, when Courtney Bures blasted a double over the center fielder's head, scoring Mandie Fishback from first. Fishback had reached on a fielder's choice. The two run margin stood until the fourth, when Clay's shot pulled the Impact within a run.

The Brakettes led 2-1 until the sixth, when the floodgates opened up. Bures laced her second double of the contest to right with one out, and Mollica took the open base when she was hit by a pitch. Killian Roessner grounded to the right side, and Mollica was tagged out on her way to second. Roessner hustled up the line, taking away the double play possibility. Bures advanced to third, and the Brakettes had runners at the corners with two outs, as Boden came up looking to provide an insurance run. Boden singled to score Bures, and moved Roessner's pinch-runner Amanda Morin to third. Stephanie Hill gave the Brakettes more breathing room, with a single to score Morin.

Joanna Gail then singled to send Boden home from second base, and the Brakettes' lead was 5-1. Sari-Jane Jenkins reached on an infield single, her third base hit of the game, and the bases were loaded for Denise Denis. Pettit, who had pitched well in the first five, walked Denis to force in the Brakettes' sixth run. Fishback came up with the bases still full, and delivered a double to score Gail and Jenkins. With the Brakettes needing one more run to invoke the mercy rule, Bures grounded to second. The ball kicked off the second baseman's glove, letting Denis come home with the final run, leaving the Impact on the field. The Brakettes had 11 hits on the night.

The Brakettes will face the Carbondale (IL) Cougars at 12 noon on Monday, in a Winner's Bracket Semi-Final. The Cougars defeated the Topton VIP's 8-0 en route to the mid-day matchup. The game will be broadcast live, right here at www.brakettes.com.