Brakettes Lose Heartbreaker 2-1

August 11, 2006 - The Connecticut Brakettes dropped a heartwrenching decision to the Chicago Bandits 2-1, Thursday night in Lisle, IL. The start of the game was delayed almost two hours because of rain. The Brakettes came battling back in the seventh inning from down 2-0 to pull within a run, even sending Kellie Wilkerson to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Wilkerson topped a grounder to shortstop Jaime Clark, who picked it up and threw to first to end the threat. Wilkerson, who raced the throw up the basepath, slid into first and appeared to have beaten the toss across the diamond.  The first base umpire thought differently, and made the decisive out call which wrapped up the decision.

The Bandits scored first in the bottom of the third, as Mackenzie Vandergeest raced home on a wild pitch by Brakettes pitcher Nikki Myers. Myers, who struck out eight and only gave up three hits, allowed Vandergeest to reach on her only walk of the game. The lead stretched to 2-0 when Vandergeest hit a solo shot to the left-center stands in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Brakettes' bats struggled most of the night until the seventh. Aimee Minor led off the top of the frame  with a single to right field. Stephanie Best followed with a double to left-center which scored Minor from first base to pull Connecticut to within 2-1. Erica Sobel came up to sacrifice bunt Best to third, but was instead hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with no outs. Adrienne Alo put down a successful sac bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out. Denise Denis then came to the plate and battled relief pitcher Jessica Sallinger for 13 pitches before striking out on a 3-2 drop. With two outs, Kelly Kretschman was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a force at any base. Wilkerson's controversial at-bat followed, and the Brakettes were left standing and stewing, as the umpires raced off the field.

Myers dropped to 7-4 with the loss, despite a strong showing. Gina Oaks, the Chicago starter, went six plus innings to pick up the win. She improved to 7-3 after scattering four Brakettes' hits and allowing the sole Connecticut run. She gave way to Sallinger with no outs and Best at second base. Aimee Minor scored the only Connecticut run and led the charge with two base hits.

The Brakettes dropped to 24-13, percentage points behind the New England Riptide in third place in NPF standings. Chicago improved to 26-8 and strengthened their first-place lead. The teams will play the third game in the four-game series Friday night at 7:05 Central, 8:05 Eastern time.

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