Brakettes Sweep Spirit with Two Big Innings

June 12, 2011 - LYONS, PA. - The Brakettes scored 14 runs over two innings Sunday to earn not one but two mercy-rule victories over the host Spirit.

The Brakettes scored five runs in the top of the sixth to break open what had been a 4-0 opening game and win 9-0, then battered the Spirit for nine runs in the top of the first in the second game and went on to win 10-1. The Brakettes, who also beat the Spirit 2-0 Saturday, improved their record to 9-0 this season.

Stephanie Call pitched her second straight two-hit shutout in the first game. Karen Bauer hit her first pitch of the day up the middle for a single, but Call then retired the next 15 Spirit hitters.

She also provided plenty of offense. Her RBI double in the first brought home Denise Denis with the game's first run, and Call tripled and scored in the fifth and walked and scored during the five-run sixth. Ashley Waters hit a two-run triple in the sixth, and Jordan Paolucci led off the second with a triple and scored on Melissa Mancuso's grounder. Carly Normandin scored twice and Mancuso had two hits.

Call started Game Two as well, but, staked to the 9-0 lead before throwing a pitch, did not get through the first inning. Three of the first four Spirit batters singled off her to get one run back, and after Call walked Jean Buskirk, Brakettes manager John Stratton had Call switch spots with second baseman Ashley Waters. Waters pitched four-and-one-third innings and allowed six hits, including three in the second inning to load the bases, but she allowed no runs.

All nine Brakettes in the starting lineup scored in the first inning. Alisa Heronema and Mandie Fishback drove in two runs apiece in the inning. Heronema also led off the second with a single and scored on Normandin's two-out hit for the game's only other run.

The Brakettes will return home Thursday for a 6:30 game against the Connecticut high school all-stars.