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Friday Night
Team Canada Posts Another Sweep
 June 27, 2015 - The Canadian National Team swept another doubleheader from the Brakettes on Friday night, posting 6-1 and 2-1 wins at DeLuca Hall of Fame Field in Stratford, Connecticut.
Laura Ricciardone started the early contest for Stratford, striking out two in four frames. She surrendered six runs on ten hits to an unforgiving Canadian lineup, which is primed for a trip to the World Cup of Softball X next week in Irvine, California. Sydney Matzko came on in relief in the fifth inning and impressed. She scattered three hits, while holding Canada scoreless for three frames. Matzko also wiggled out of a one-out, bases-loaded predicament in the seventh inning.
Jocelyn Cater took the circle for Canada in the opener, fanning five Brakettes in four innings. She gave up five singles and walked one.
Team Canada took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, when Cariegh-Leigh Thomas smashed a solo shot down the line in left.
Erika Polidori’s RBI single scored Joey Lye in the second, who led off with a base hit. Thomas reached on an infield single, which sent Polidori to third. Megan Gurski lofted a sac fly to left field to score Polidori, giving Canada a 3-0 edge.
The Canadians opened it up in the fourth, when they plated three more runs. Emma Entzminger walked and went to second when Larissa Franklin beat out an infield hit. Another infield safety by Victoria Hayward loaded the bases for Canada. Three consecutive singles by Lye, Jen Yee and Polidori scored a run apiece, extending the lead to 6-0.
Stratford scored its only run in the bottom of the fourth, when Emily Lochten led off with a line drive single past the shortstop. Elena Bowman followed up with a single up the middle, pushing Lochten to second, who then stole third base. Jordan Whitley sent Lochten home with her second hit of the night, pulling the Brakettes within 6-1.
Jenna Caira took over in the fifth, striking out three and giving up two hits over three innings of work. She kept the Brakettes off the scoreboard the rest of the way to secure the victory.
Brandice Balschmiter worked out of four bases-loaded jams, but took the loss in the late game. Tatum Buckley pulled the Brakettes to within 2-1 with a leadoff home run in the fifth inning, but Stratford could not produce the tying run.
Balschmiter showed her mental strength once again, putting Canadian runners on all bases in the first three innings, without allowing a run. Her only blemish of the night was a two-run homer in the fifth to Kaleigh Rafter, which followed a single by Yee. She also escaped a similar jam in the seventh inning, loading the bases, yet not allowing a run.
Buckley’s blast in the fifth was her second of the year, both of which same against international competition. She hit a three-run shot against China Liaoning two weeks ago at DeLuca Field.
Karissa Hovinga started the late game for Canada, striking out three and giving up just two hits in four scoreless innings to earn the win. Sara Groenewegen pitched the last three and struck out seven, dominating the Brakettes after surrendering the leadoff homer to Buckley.
The Brakettes and Team Canada will play the last doubleheader of the three-night series on Saturday at 6:00 in Stratford at DeLuca Field. |
Friday night, June 26th
vs. Canadian National Team |
| First Game, 7:00 PM |
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Second Game |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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4 |
5 |
6 |
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7 |
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R |
H |
E |
| CANADA |
0 |
1 |
2 |
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3 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
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6 |
13 |
0 |
| BRAKETTES |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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1 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
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1 |
7 |
0 |
Batteries: Canada- Jocelyn Cater (W), Jenna Cairo (5) and Natalie Wideman; Brakettes- Laura Ricciardone (L, 6-2), Sydney Matzko (5) and Mary Sciglimpaglia
Homerun: Canada- Carey-Leigh Thomas |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
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4 |
5 |
6 |
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7 |
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|
R |
H |
E |
| CANADA |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
2 |
0 |
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0 |
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2 |
8 |
2 |
| BRAKETTES |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
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0 |
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1 |
4 |
2 |
Batteries: Canada- Karissa Hovinga, Sara Groenewegen (5, W) and Kaleigh Rafter; Brakettes- Brandice Balschmiter (L, 6-2) and Elena Bowman
Homerun: Canada- Kaleigh Rafter; Brakettes- Tatum Buckley (2) |
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