DANIELLE HENDERSON EARNS TWO VICTORIES IN BRAKETTES' SWEEP OVER PENNSYLVANIA SPIRIT

July 13, 2008 - STRATFORD, CT- The last time Danielle Henderson pitched both ends of a doubleheader was back in her collegiate days at the University of Massachusetts. Sunday afternoon at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field, Henderson was forced to work both games since no other pitchers were available.

The 6-foot-2 former USA Olympian had little difficulty in a five-inning 8-0 first game win, but she was pushed to the maximum in the nightcap as the Brakettes rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Pennsylvania Spirit to push their unbeaten record to 36-0.

"I'm so happy that Mandie (Fishback) hit that home run in the bottom of the sixth because I really didn’t have much left," said Henderson, who improved to 3-0 on the year and 97-10 in her six-year Brakettes career.

Henderson took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning of the second game before the Spirit came up with four singles and took advantage of an error to tie the score at 3-3. Karen Bauer singled to open the inning and she reached second on Elaine Bedell’s sacrifice bunt. Jennine Mara singled and Heather Gordan walked to load the bases. Denise Hendersen and Kathy Hendersen drove in runs with singles to cut the deficit to 3-2. The third run scored on Laura Trout's error at shortstop. Melissa Marotta's fielder's choice force out ended the rally.

In the Brakettes' sixth, Denise Denis re-entered the game and pinch-hit a single to left center field. Mandie Fishback then belted her first home run of the year, ironically over her parent's banner on the left field fence, for a 5-3 lead. After Bauer led the seventh inning with a single, Henderson retired the next three batters for the win.

Denise and Arizona State's Kaitlin Cochran led the Brakettes with two hits each, while Amber Radomski drove in two runs and Jessica Mouse one.

Kathy Henderson, Bauer and Gordan all had two hits for the Spirit, which dropped to 22-17 on the year.

In the opener, Henderson pitched a one-hitter and struck out 11 in the run-rule game. The Brakettes scored five runs in the second inning and ended the game with a three-run spurt in the fifth.

Ashley Waters and Trout both had two hits and scored three runs. Trout's all came on her walk-off home run in the fifth. Denis belted a three-run homer to cap the second-inning explosion.

Pitchers Brandice Balschmiter (13-0) and Bailey Sanders (9-0) along with UMass teammates Whitney Mollica and Jessica Serio were not at Sunday's doubleheader. They were back on campus for the final session of their summer camp. Pitcher Leslie Malerich (9-0) was en route from Italy, where she was pitching for her club team, while high school phenom Rachele Fico is in Vancouver with the Gold Coast Hurricanes in the annual Canada Cup.

The Brakettes return to action Friday night against the Stratford Seahawks in a 7 p.m. doubleheader at DeLuca Field. They also host the Lehigh Valley Lady Gators Saturday at 7. The Brakettes and the USA Olympic Team clash July 20 at 7 p.m. in a nine-inning game at DeLuca Field that is a sellout.

The Olympic game will be webcast by the Brakettes.