Xtra Inning Needed for Brakettes to Beat Xtreme in Series Finale

July 6, 2008 - The Western NY Xtreme gave the Brakettes their greatest test of the season to date Sunday, tying the score in the seventh inning at 1-1, before losing to Stratford 2-1 in eight innings. The dramatic ending came in the second contest of a matinee twin-bill, and the final match-up in a two-day, four-game series between the clubs.

The Brakettes won the first game 12-0, behind a strong performance by Brandice Balschmiter on the mound. Balschmiter struck out seven, and allowed three hits.

Bailey Sanders offered a dominating performance in the second contest, striking out a career-high twelve batters, and holding the Xtreme hitless until the sixth inning. Shelly Seeger singled to left off Sanders with one out in the frame to end the no-hit bid, and the Xtreme would again break through in the top of the seventh.

Rachel Clonick led off the inning with a solo shot to left field, stunning the Brakettes' faithful, and knotting the score at 1-1. After consecutive singles by Nicole Sabuda and Sara Messinger, Balschmiter replaced Sanders, and retired the side on a sac bunt and a strikeout.

Stratford failed to score in the home seventh, sending the 2008 Brakettes to an extra inning for the first time. Balschmiter struck out two more batters in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for the bottom of the inning.

Whitney Mollica earned a lead-off walk, and Jess Mouse was prepared to sacrifice her into scoring position. Mouse laid down the bunt, but she reached on an error, sending Mollica to third. Mouse also moved up a base on the gaffe, and then advanced to third when Mollica was forced out at home on a ground ball. Mouse came home with the winning run on a grounder by Amber Radomski, and the Brakettes escaped with a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Balschmiter pitched 1 and 2/3 innings in picking up the relief win, as she improved to 10-0 with the two daylight victories. The Brakettes improved their mark to 28-0.

The Brakettes had not scored since Jenna Lopez led off the first inning with a solo shot to centerfield, and the bats were held in check due to the Xtreme pitching combo of Sabuda and Brittany Stratton.

Sabuda started the game and allowed one run in four innings, and Stratton came on in relief in the fifth and also gave up one run. Only Lopez, who had three hits off the Xtreme tandem, registered multiple safeties in the encore.

Lopez also homered in the first game, as she added a double, two walks, and three runs. The Brakettes scored three runs in the first inning and two in the second. After going down 1-2-3 in the third, Stratford tacked on a sixth run on Lopez' shot to center in the fourth. Her two afternoon blasts give her three for the season, second on the team.

The Brakettes added three more in both the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by Denise Denis' two-run double in the fifth, and Ashley Waters' RBI double in the sixth. Waters and Radomski joined Lopez with two hits in the game, as Denis and Mouse each scored twice.

The Brakettes will return to action on Thursday, July 10th, with a 7:00 pm doubleheader vs. the Connecticut Panthers Gold. Both games will be broadcast right here at www.brakettes.com.