Racers Edge Brakettes in Photo Finish, 11-10

June 18, 2006 - The Brakettes suffered their second defeat of the season, both of which have come at the hands of the Racers. In an offensive display by both teams, Akron came out on top 11-10. Both starting pitchers struggled early, and the long ball played a huge role Sunday at DeLuca HOF Field in Stratford, CT. Oli Keohohou smashed a grand slam in the first off of Brakette pitcher Nikki Myers, to open up a 5-0 lead for Akron. McArthur was not able to keep the Brakette bats down, who scored two of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

Crystl Bustos blasted a solo shot for the second straight night in the second, widening the margin to 6-2. The Brakettes scored three in the third to pull to within 6-5, as Kellie Wilkerson nailed her first homerun of the season, a two-run shot. After the Racers fourth inning yielded two more runs, Myers was pulled for Sarah Pauly. Pauly went the distance in last night’s game, getting the win, but ended up on the wrong side of the equation Sunday. The Brakettes rallied to tie the game in the fourth, then took the lead on Denise Denis’ two-run double. With a 10-8 advantage, Sarah Pauly stood as the pitcher of record for the Brakettes.

The Racers capitalized again in the fifth, with Bustos lining a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 10 apiece. Jenny Topping continued the rally, getting the eventual game-winning RBI on a double.

Connecticut had an opportunity in the last of the seventh, with the tying run at first, and Stephanie Best and Wilkerson coming up. Amy Kyler struck them both out looking to end the threat, and push the Racers to 7-4. With the loss, the Brakettes dropped to 7-2, but remain in first place in the NPF standings. Pauly dropped to 4-1 with the loss.

The Brakettes look to turn the page this Thursday, as they open a four-game series with the Chicago Bandits.

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