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Saturday Night
Ricciardone perfect in twin bill victory over Mass Pride 4-0, 8-0
 July 26, 2015 - by Ilan Woll - Day 2 of the weekend series between the Mass Pride and the Brakettes began with Mercer University's Anna O'Neil facing off against Laura Ricciardone.
Val Suto led off the game with a slap single to third base, just beating a strong throw from Patty Borges. Suto stole second and then, with two outs, scored on a single up the middle by Emily Lochten for the first run of the game.
The third inning saw Stratford add another run as Mary Sciglimpaglia singled, and, with Katie Petroski coming in as a pinch runner, advanced on a Brit Lampert single. Following a passed ball and a Lochten walk, Elena Bowman slammed a hard single up the middle, scoring Petroski for the 2-0 lead.
UMass's Meg Colleran entered the game in the fifth inning and started with a perfect inning, then following a walk to Lochten, Elena Bowman slammed her sixth home run to left field to extend the lead to four.
Laura Ricciardone, conversely, retired all twenty one batters she faced for her second perfect game of the season. She struck out ten and did not allow a ball to leave the infield. She extended her record to 11-2 on the season. Emily Lochten got on base in every plate appearance and Elena Bowman had two hits in the game.
Game 2 started with two UMass pitchers facing each other as current Minuteman Meg Colleran faced top alum Brandice Balschmiter.
The Pride threatened early as Alexis Debrosse slapped a curveball into right field with one out and Alyssa Zahka walked. Balschmiter then struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Colleran pitched two excellent innings against the Brakettes, allowing just one hit before being replaced by Columbia University's Kayla Maloney. In the third the home team finally got on the board as Katie Petroski doubled with two outs, then scored on a throwing error to take the lead.
In the fourth, the fireworks really started as Denise Denis hit a ground rule double, and Emily Lochten and Elena Bowman both singled to bring in Denis. Tatum Buckley then hit a towering fly ball to left field which brought in a run. Cassie Ruscz then hit another ball to the fence, bringing in Bowman. Mary Sciglimpaglia then singled to advance Ruscz, but was thrown out at second by an excellent throw and left the Brakettes with a 5-0 lead.
The fifth started well for the Pride as, after a Val Suto single, Maloney forced a line drive and force play for the first two outs. However, the third out did not come as Lochten singled and Elena Bowman singled, scoring Denis and Lochten. However, the ball went under the center fielders glove and to the fence, putting Bowman at first. Buckley then singled, scoring Bowman to end the game.
Brandice Balschmiter (13-2) was dominant throughout the game, allowing just the one hit, striking out nine in five innings.
Next weekend the Brakettes are on the road playing the Queens Lady Rangers and NYC Havoc. The games will not be broadcast. The next home series will be August 4 against the St. Louis Saints. Following that, August 6-9 is the Women's Major Softball National Championships at DeLuca. In pool play, the Brakettes will play the Queen's Lady Rangers and Dutchess Debs. All tournament games will be webcast on brakettes.com
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| Saturday night, July 25th |
| First Game, 7:00 PM |
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Second Game - FINAL |
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| MASS PRIDE |
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Batteries: Pride- Anna O'Neil (L), Meg Colleran (5) and Shelby Stracher; Brakettes- Laura Ricciardone (W, 11-2) and Mary Sciglimpaglia
Homerun: Elena Bowman (6) |
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| BRAKETTES |
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Batteries: Pride- Meg Colleran, Kayla Maloney (3, L) and Shelby Stracher; Brakettes- Brandice Balschmiter (W, 13-2) and Mary Sciglimpaglia
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