Brakettes Top Bay State Brats Twice on Breast Cancer Awareness Night

July 23, 2010 - Rachele Fico threw her second straight perfect game Thursday night, leading the Brakettes past the Bay State (MA) Brats 8-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. Jess Serio and Bailey Sanders drilled homers to fuel the offense. Ashley Waters picked up her third win of the year in the nightcap with a 3-0 decision.
Fico struck out seven batters in the early contest, a game shortened to five innings due to run rule. She worked quickly and efficiently in picking up her 24th victory, and did not allow a ball out of the infield.

The Brakettes wore hot pink jerseys for both games to show their support for the fight against breast cancer. The games were held as a benefit for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation, and over $2,000 was raised for the worthy cause.

The Brakettes loaded the bases in the first inning off Brats' starter Chelsea Durso, but did not score. Stratford put two more runners on in the second inning, but still could not plate a run. The Brakettes efforts would soon be rewarded, however, as the bats got hot in the third inning.

Serio knocked her sixth home run of the year with one out in the third, giving the Brakettes a 1-0 lead. Mandie Fishback followed with a single, and moved up to second on a base hit by Lyndsay Mouse. Fishback reached third on a throwing error, giving Stratford runners at the corners. Lyndsay Mouse took off for second looking to draw a throw from Amanda Kressler, the Brats’ catcher, to give Fishback a chance to race home. Kressler delivered a strong throw to catch Mouse in a rundown, but the Brats conceded the plate to Fishback, allowing the shortstop to steal home for the Brakettes’ second run. Lyndsay Mouse was tagged for the second out, bringing Jess Mouse to the plate with no one on base.

Jess Mouse contributed a single with two outs, and the Brakettes continued their rally. Bailey Sanders followed with a moon shot to centerfield, a towering homer that was her first of the year. Sanders’ blast gave the Brakettes a 4-0 lead.

Serio reached on an error in the fourth inning, and advanced to second on a single by Fishback. Lyndsay Mouse lined a double to drive in Serio for a 5-0 edge.

After Fico retired the side 1-2-3 in the top half of the fifth, the Brakettes scored three more in the home half to leave the Brats on the field.

Carly Normandin was hit by a pitch with one out, and went all the way from first to third on a wild pitch. Denise Denis walked, again bringing up Serio. The team’s home run leader roped a single to score Normandin, putting Stratford up 6-0. Fishback earned a walk to load the bases for Lyndsay Mouse.

Mouse came through with the decisive hit, a two-run single to score Denis and Serio, closing out the 8-0 victory for the Brakettes.

Serio and Lyndsay Mouse had three hits apiece, while Fishback and Lindsey Kay Bright each contributed two base hits.

Waters scattered four hits over seven innings in the late game to improve to 3-0 on the season. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.

Fishback led off the top of the second with a double to the base of the left field fence. She was sacrificed to third by Lyndsay Mouse, and then scored on a single by Sanders. The 1-0 lead would stand until the fifth inning.

Bright led off the fifth with a bunt single and stole second. Denis followed with a walk to give Serio runners at first and second. Serio flew out to deep center, but both runners were able to tag up and advance a base. With two in scoring position, Fishback drove in both runners with her second double of the game, giving the Brakettes a 3-0 lead.

Waters preserved the victory and helped the Brakettes win their 42nd consecutive game.

The impressive showing for Bailey Sanders could not have come at a better time for the recent UMASS graduate, as her Thursday night games could be her last in a Brakettes' uniform. She will head to Penn State Medical School in Hershey, PA this Saturday. Sanders closed out her season, and perhaps her Brakettes' career, on a high note.

Stratford will return to action Saturday night at 7:00 with a doubleheader against the Lehigh Valley (PA) Lady Gators. The Brakettes and Lady Gators will also return to DeLuca on Sunday for a 12 noon twin-bill.

All Brakettes’ home games at DeLuca Field are video webcast at brakettes.com.