Brakettes Blast Xplosion 12-0, Advance to Semis

August 8, 2014 - The Stratford Brakettes topped the CT Xplosion on Friday night, tallying six runs in the first inning, en route to a 12-0 run rule-shortened rout. The win moved the Brakettes into Saturday's WMS winner's bracket semifinal. Brandice Balschmiter struck out nine in a two-hitter, while Denise Denis hit her 100th career double.

Just a day after Denis became the Brakettes' all-time home run leader, she picked up her 100th career double, becoming the third Brakette to reach the milestone. Only Joan Joyce (153) and Pat Dufficy (148) have more two-base hits.

Tatum Buckley continued her torrid hitting in WMS play, starting the first-inning rally with a double to left. Britt Lampert beat out a bunt and moved Buckley to third, giving the Brakettes runners at the corners. After Lampert stole second base, Elise Fortier earned a walk to load the bases with no outs.

Mandie Fishback delivered a single to score two, giving Stratford the early 2-0 lead. Amber Radomski drove in Fortier from second with a base hit for a 3-0 advantage.

Mariel Schlaefer roped a double to continue the inning, sending Fishback home to stretch the margin to 4-0. Radomski raced to third on the play, then scored along with Schlaefer when Cassie Ruscz reached on an error. The miscue gave the Brakettes a commanding 6-0 lead.

Fishback walked to lead off the third, then scored the team's seventh run on the milestone double by Denis.

Denis led off the fifth and added another double, and Bri Chiusano came on as her pinch-runner. Radomski sacrificed Chiusano to third, before Schlaefer was hit by a pitch. Schlaefer took second base uncontested, putting two in scoring position.

Ruscz lined a two-run single to right, plating Chiusano and Schlaefer for a 9-0 score. Shannon Smith followed and was hit by a pitch, giving the Brakettes runners on first and second. Buckley singled to right, scoring Ruscz to push the margin to 10-0. Smith advanced to third on the play, while Buckley took second on the throw.

Fortier capped the scoring with a two-run single, ending the top of the fifth with a 12-0 lead for Stratford.

Balschmiter closed out the Xplosion in the bottom of the fifth to secure the victory, improving to 13-0 on the season.

Molly Keshin and Emily Woznick picked up the only hits for the Xplosion.

With the win, the Brakettes advanced to play the Mass Pride at 1 pm on Saturday at DeLuca Field in a winner's bracket semifinal.

All games at DeLuca Field in the 2014 Women's Major Softball National Championship will be live video webcast on www.brakettes.com.