Denis Drives Brakettes Past Panthers

June 25, 2009 - Denise Denis hit home runs in both games of a doubleheader Thursday night at DeLuca Field, leading the Brakettes past the Connecticut Panthers by 12-1 and 9-1 scores. Bailey Sanders pitched a no-hitter in the nightcap, her second of the season.

Jen Russell made her Brakettes’ debut in the first game, scattering four hits, while earning the victory. Both games were abbreviated due to the run rule. Russell struck out two and walked one.

Denis smacked a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning, her fourth homer of the season, to put the Brakettes up 1-0.

The Brakettes opened up the game in the second, as Jess Mouse and Mandie Fishback earned consecutive walks to start the frame. Jenna Lopez then reached on a bunt single, loading the bases with no outs. Amber Radomski lined a single to right field, driving in Mouse and Fishback, and Radomski moved to second as the throw went to third. The throw sailed wide of the bag, sending Lopez home for a 4-0 lead, and Radomski to third.

Bailey Sanders sent Radomski home to score with a groundout to second base, putting Stratford up 5-0. After Ashley Waters reached on a fielder’s choice, Denis doubled her home to move the lead to 6-0.

Mouse led off the third with another walk, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Fishback drove her in with a double, staking Russell to a 7-0 cushion. Lopez earned a base on balls, again bringing up Radomski with multiple runners on base. Radomski would not disappoint, driving in Fishback with a single.

The lead stood at 8-0, but not for long. Carly Normandin drilled a three-run homer to deep center, putting Stratford ahead 11-0.

Natalie Wabshinak provided the lone run for the Panthers in the top of the fourth, launching the first homer off Brakettes’ pitchers all season, to pull the Panthers within 11-1. She also had a single in the first inning. Allysa Van Alpren and Suzie Karath each had a base hit for the Panthers as well.

Mouse closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fourth at 12-1, as she lined her second homer of the year to left.

Sanders struck out nine in the late game, moving to 6-0 for the season.

The Brakettes jumped up early in the second contest, putting up four runs in the first. Lopez reached on an error, and Waters and Denis both walked, loading the bases with no outs. Jess Mouse flew out to left, sending Lopez home on the tag from third. Waters and Denis moved up a base on a wild pitch, giving Stratford runners at second and third. Radomski grounded out to short, scoring Waters on the play.

Fishback singled home Denis for a 3-0 lead, and after a single by Jill Cimminello, Stacy Lajoie drove in Fishback with a base hit of her own.

Waters put the Brakettes up 5-0 in the second inning, with her third long ball of the season.

The Panthers scored their run in the third, as Sanders hit both Tori Thomas and Karath with pitches. After a walk to Wabshinak, pinch-runner Stephanie Johnson came home on a wild pitch, drawing the Panthers to within 5-1.

Lopez led off the fourth with a single, again setting the stage for dramatics by Denis. With one out in the frame, Denis smacked her team-leading fifth homer of the year to center, stretching the margin to 7-1.

Mouse was hit by a pitch and stole second base, and scored on a single by Radomski. Fishback reached on a fielder’s choice, and moved up on another base hit by Cimminello. Lajoie then drove in Fishback to move the lead to 9-1, setting up another run-rule shortened win.

Sanders settled down after the shaky third inning, retiring the last eight batters she faced.

The Brakettes will host the Connecticut Tradition U-18 Friday night at 7:00 at DeLuca Field. Follow along with both games right here at brakettes.com.