Brakettes Blank CT Seahawks 1-0, 7-0

July 24, 2014 - The Stratford Brakettes improved to 37-0 on the season with a pair of shutouts over the CT Seahawks 23-unders on Thursday night before a season-high home crowd of 498. The Brakettes survived a scare with a 1-0 win in the early game, then cruised to a 7-0 victory behind Allyson Fournier's perfect game in the nightcap.

The Brakettes used small ball and solid pitching to capture the first game, as Tatum Buckley earned the win in the 1-0 decision. She struck out 11 and scattered four hits.

Stratford scored their lone run in the contest in the fifth inning, after Steffi Call made her presence felt with a leadoff double. Call was playing in her first game of the 2014 season, fresh off a short retirement.

Mariel Schlaefer sacrificed Call to third, while Amber Radomski lofted a sac fly to center to plate Call for a 1-0 edge.

Buckley worked out of trouble several times in the game, as the Seahawks saw five runners reach scoring position. Tori Sciebe led the way for the Seahawks with a single and a double. Kristine Liptack and Casey Talcik each had base hits for Connecticut.

Talcik started for the Seahawks and pitched well into the sixth inning. After Denise Denis ripped a triple in the sixth inning, Brittany Koshes came on in relief and retired the side to keep the Seahawks in the game.

Buckley improved to 8-0 on the season with the win.

Fournier dominated the late game from start to finish, striking out 15 in her fifth perfect game of the season. She improved to 19-0 with the victory.

The Brakettes jumped up 3-0 in the second inning, as Elena Bowman led off with a single. Mandie Fishback then grounded into a fielder's choice, which saw Bowman forced out at second. Call roped a ground rule double to right-center, sending Fishback to third on the play.

Schlaefer singled to right field to score both baserunners, putting Stratford up, 2-0. Buckley added to the lead with an RBI single to left, closing out the frame for the Brakettes with a 3-0 advantage.

Denis Denis added to her home run total with a solo shot in the fifth inning, her 12th of the year. It was the 89th homer of her career, putting her just two long balls behind all-time slugging leader Pat Dufficy, who has 91 career home runs.

The Brakettes added to the tally in the sixth inning, plating three more runs.

Fishback started the rally with a single and moved up a bag when Jess Mouse walked. Schlaefer picked up two more RBI's with a triple, stretching the margin to 6-0. Buckley brought Schlaefer home with a sac fly to right, closing out the scoring at 7-0.

The Brakettes return to action on Friday night with two pool play games in the 2014 USSSA Brakettes Invitational. The Brakettes will play the CT Eliminators at 7:00 pm and the Stratford Breakers at 8:30.

All 2014 Brakettes games are live video webcast at www.brakettes.com.