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Sunday
Balschmiter, Ricciardone Shine in 2-0, 8-0 Shutouts of Lyons Spirit
 June 8, 2015 - by Ilan Woll - After an 11-3 offensive onslaught in game two the previous day, it was a bit surprising that the first game would feature the same starting pitchers. However, both Jenn Shellhammer and Laura Ricciardone shone in a pitchers' duel.
The Brakettes threatened in the first two innings with Britt Lampert stranded at second base after a bunt single in the first. In the second, a Tatum Buckley single to centerfield and two walks resulted in the bases being left loaded. Meanwhile, Ricciardone showed her mettle retiring the first seven batters of the game.
The Spirit produced their own drama in the third when Rachel Lawes singled, Krista Schauder reached on a fielder's choice and Karen Bauer walked to load the bases with two outs before Ricciardone recorded her fifth strikeout of seven on the day.
In the third, Stratford took a lead after Lampert was hit by a pitch, Denise Denis had a rare slap hit, and Elena Bowman blooped a single to leftfield to load the bases. Cassie Ruscz, the hero of game two Saturday, skied a fly ball to left field that was caught, but scored a run before Bauer turned an unassisted double play, catching a liner and tagging the runner advancing off second base.
After leaving the bases loaded in the fourth (ten total runners were stranded by the home squad), the Brakettes added an insurance run in the fifth as Bowman was hit by a pitch, reached third on two passed balls and was then driven in by a ground rule double from Sarah Bencivenga that appeared it may be a home run, but narrowly fell short of going over the fence and instead went through it.
 The Spirit gave another valiant effort to get in the game as Megan Olson doubled to rightfield, and Bauer advanced her to third on a bloop single with no outs. However, a popup to Bencivenga and a ground ball to Ruscz held the Spirit off the board. Following a Jenn Dalickis walk to load the bases, Sarah Maulorico drilled a ball to the gap in right center, but Val Suto ranged quickly to the gap and denied the Spirit the opportunity to tie the game or take a lead (photo). Ricciardone then shut the door in the seventh with a 1-2-3 inning to cement the win.
Laura Ricciardone (3-0) struck out seven, allowing three hits and walking three. Lampert had two hits in the winning cause. Jenn Shellhammer struck out five in the losing cause.
Game 2's showdown was a repeat of the 1-0 Saturday duel between Liz Gall and Brandice Balschmiter. Brandice was even more effective this time after allowing a leadoff single to Karen Bauer, she then retired the remaining eighteen batters, utilizing the defense heavily as she struck out only two.
The offense, conversely, was consistent as Val Suto walked, and advanced to second on an infield hit for Britt Lampert. Denise Denis then laid down a sacrifice bunt that was nearly a hit. Following another hit by pitch for Elena Bowman (her third of the season), Sarah Bencivenga singled to left, scoring Suto. However, Lampert was thrown out at the plate as Jenn Dalickis fired the ball to Sarah Maulorico well ahead of the Concordia Clipper.
After a quiet second, the Brakettes batted nine in the third. After a Suto single to right, Lampert then singled. Bowman walked to load the bases. Following a force out at the plate, Bencivenga singled in two and Taylor Moss drove in another with a hit.
The fifth saw more runs come across when, after a walk, Tatum Buckley singled and Mary Sciglimpaglia earned her first hit as a Brakette. Suto then drove the ball to the wall, clearing the bases for a 7-0 lead.
The final run scored in the sixth when singles by Cassie Ruscz, Bencivenga, and Buckley filled the bases and Suto walked for the run rule victory.
Brandice Balschmiter advanced to 3-0, allowing just one hit and no other baserunners. Suto had three hits and four RBIs. Lampert and Bencivenga also earned three hits on the game, with Buckley enjoying a two-hit performance.
The Brakettes return on Thursday with a double header against the Chinese National 23U Team at 7pm ET. They then travel to Lyons, PA to participate in the Cornfield Classic before visiting Harbor Yard on Sunday to play the Bluefish in the second annual Battle of the Sexes. All games will be broadcast on Brakettes.com.
| Sunday, June 7th vs. Lyons (PA) Spirit |
| First Game, 11AM - FINAL |
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Second Game - FINAL |
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Batteries: Spirit- Jenn Shellhammer (L) and Denise Henderson; Brakettes- Laura Ricciardone (W, 3-0) and Elena Bowman
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Batteries: Spirit- Liz Gall (L) and Sarah Maulorico; Brakettes- Brandice Balschmiter (W, 3-0) and Mary Sciglimpaglia
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