Brakettes Beat Seahawks Twice in Home Opener

June 13, 2008 - The Brakettes beat the Stratford Seahawks in both ends of a doubleheader Thursday at DeLuca HOF Field, as the team played its first home games of the season. Leslie Malerich pitched a no-hitter and struck out eight in the first game, as the Brakettes pounded out out 11 hits. Bailey Sanders picked up the win in the nightcap, a 7-1 final.

The Brakettes opened a 3-0 lead in the home second, as Ashley Waters smashed a triple to center. Amber Radomski singled her home for the first run. Jess Serio singled to put two runners on base with one out. Jenna Lopez laid down a bunt, hoping to move both runners up a base. An errant throw by Seahawks starter Brianne Gleason sailed into right field and skipped past the backup, allowing Radomski and Serio to score.

The lead stood at 3-0 until the fourth inning, when Whitney Mollica drilled a two-run double to left center. Laura Trout and Mandie Fishback came home to extend to a 5-0 margin. Two batters later, Denise Denis doubled to the same spot in left center, driving home Mollica and Jess Mouse to round out the scoring.

Malerich improved to 4-0 on the season, and has struck out 46 batters in 26 innings. She allowed two walks, which accounted for the only Seahawks baserunners of the game.

The Brakettes' offense started the second game in high gear, scoring four runs in the first inning, and adding three in the second. Denis hit from the leadoff spot and started things off with a single. Waters and Fishback walked to load the bases, bringing up the hot-hitting Mollica. 

Mollica grounded to the left side, scoring Denis, as Waters slid under a throw at third. After the play, it was determined by the umpires that there had been defensive interference. Waters was sent home for the second run, and the other runners each moved up a bag. Fishback would then score on an error, and Mollica was driven in by Jenna Lopez' single, putting the Brakettes up 4-0.

Denis led off the second inning with a single as well, moving to second on a hit by Fishback. After Mollica walked, Jess Mouse delivered her first hit as a Brakettes in style. She crushed a double to plate two more runs, and the Brakettes were in the driver's seat with a 6-0 lead. With Mouse still at second, Lopez grounded out to the right side, pushing home the seventh and final Brakettes run.

The Seahawks scored in the fifth, after a leadoff single by Jess Rickel. With two outs and a runner at second, Sarah Gates singled. Rickel moved to third, giving the Seahawks runners at the corners. Shari D'Amico came through with a single to right to drive home the only Seahawks run on the night. D'Amico had two of the team's four safeties.

Sanders improved to 2-0 for 2008, striking out seven batters along the way.

The Brakettes will be in action Friday night at DeLuca HOF Field, with a single nine-inning game at 7 pm against the CT High School All-Stars.