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Thursday Night
Brakettes Pull Away from China-Liaoning, 8-3
June 12, 2015 - The Stratford Brakettes welcomed China-Liaoning to DeLuca Hall of Fame Field on Thursday night, as America’ top amateur club team matched up with a top professional team from the other side of the world. The Brakettes took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth, but a three-run Tatum Buckley home run put the game out of reach, as Stratford cruised to an 8-3, nine-inning victory.
Stratford pieced three runs together in the bottom of the first, giving starter Laura Ricciardone an early cushion. Britt Lambert started the rally with a bunt single with one out. Denise Denis and Emily Lochten responded with back-to-back doubles, the latter of which plated Lambert. Sarah Bencivenga lined a single up the middle to score both Denis and Lochten, giving Stratford a 3-0 advantage.
China-Liaoning chipped away at the lead in the top of the second, as Yang Yue reached on a one-out single. Ya Nan followed with a base hit, pushing Yue to second base. With runners on second and third and two outs, Jia Gi came through for China-Liaoning with an RBI single to pull within 3-1. Ricciardo struck out the next batter to close out the threat.
The Brakettes plated another run in the bottom of the second, stretching the lead to 4-1. Mary Sciglimpaglia led off and reached on an error, and was then forced out at second on a sacrifice attempt by Val Suto.
Suto took second when she saw the base left unoccupied, giving the Brakettes a runner in scoring position with one away. Lambert also reached on an error, as Suto stayed put at second. Denis drew a walk to load the bases. Lochten grounded out to shortstop, but the grounder drove in the Brakettes’ fourth run.
China-Liaoning crafted their second run in the top of the third, as they again cut into the lead. With one out, Lu Ying lofted a fly to deep left, which fell in and out of the fielder’s glove. The three-base error brought Cao Yang to the plate. Yang flew out to left, but the drive was deep enough to score Ying, who tagged on the play. The score brought China-Liaoning to within 4-2.
Both teams were then held scoreless for their next two at-bats, as Ricciardone (4-0) finished her stint by striking out the side in the fourth. She tallied six strikeouts over four innings to earn the victory.
Brandice Balschmiter came on in relief in the fifth and went the rest of the way. Balschmiter also had six strikeouts, as she pitched five strong innings in her first relief outing of the season.
The Brakettes broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, as Cassie Ruscz led off with a single. Bencevinga reached on an error, putting two on for Stratford. After a sacrifice by Taylor Moss, Buckley launched her first homer of the season to left-center, scoring three and extending the margin to 7-2.
China-Liaoning refused to give up, as they plated another run in the top of the sixth.
After a leadoff walk by Yang Yue, Ya Nan reached on a fielder’s choice. Ming Xin bunted Nan over to second. Nan came home on an error, bringing the score to 7-3.
Balschmiter shut down the opposition the rest of the way, as the Brakettes tacked on one more tally.
Suto and Katie Petroski singled with one out, bringing the Brakettes’ most feared hitter to the plate. Denis contributed a double, her second hit of the night, to score Suto and close out the scoring at 8-3.
The Brakettes will return to action Friday night at 7PM at Lyons (PA) Spirit.
Thursday night, June 11th
vs. China - Liaoning
FINAL |
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3 |
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4 |
5 |
6 |
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8 |
9 |
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R |
H |
E |
| CHINA ~ LIAONING |
0 |
1 |
1 |
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0 |
0 |
1 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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3 |
10 |
5 |
| BRAKETTES |
3 |
1 |
0 |
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0 |
3 |
0 |
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0 |
1 |
x |
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8 |
10 |
4 |
Batteries: China-Liaoning- Jin Lingling (L) and Yang Yue; Brakettes- Laura Ricciardone (W, 4-0), Brandice Balschmiter (5) and Mary Sciglimpaglia, Danni Kemp (5)
Homerun: Tatum Buckley (1) |
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