Brakettes Grab Two from Gators

July 24, 2010 - The Brakettes extended their winning streak to 44 games Saturday night, with 4-1 and 12-1 victories over the Lehigh Valley (PA) Gators. Rachele Fico took a perfect game into the fourth, but her attempt to tie the Brakettes' record of three straight perfectos was cut short by a one-out, bunt single by Jennifer Stow.

Fico upped her record to 25-0 with the early game victory, striking out nine along the way. She allowed just one walk and the Gators’ lone run was unearned.

Jess Mouse started the scoring in the home third, reaching on a bunt single. She was sacrificed to second by Amber Radomski and moved to third on a groundout. Carly Normandin delivered a base hit to score Mouse, putting Stratford up 1-0. Normandin stole second to move into scoring position. Ashley Waters also came through with a single, scoring Normandin from second for a 2-0 advantage.

The Gators got a run back in the top of the fourth, after Stow reached on a bunt. She moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brianna Knipe, before taking off for third on a ball in the dirt. Knipe drew a throw from Jess Serio, which kicked away from third and allowed Stow to score.

The Brakettes held a 2-1 edge until the fifth inning, when they tacked on two more.

Waters reached on a walk and stole second base, then scored on a triple by Denise Denis. Serio knocked in Denis with a single to extend the lead to 4-1.

After allowing a leadoff walk in the fifth, Fico retired the final nine batters in a row to secure the victory.

Erin Gallagher improved to 6-1 on the season with a two-hitter in the nightcap. She struck out four and walked two.

The first four Brakettes to come to the plate in the first inning all scored.  Normandin led it off and reached on a single, then stole both second and third. She came home as the throw to third kicked away from the bag. Waters walked and went to second on an error, then moved to third when Denis singled. Serio also reached on a walk, putting runners at the corners.

Lyndsay Mouse drove in Waters with a sac fly for a 2-0 lead, and Denis tagged from second to move over to third.

Jess Mouse and Jill Cimminello both reached on errors, which allowed Denis and Serio to score. The Braketttes took their 4-0 lead to the second, when the Gators would also get on the board.

Gallagher issued consecutive walks to Amy Kossyk and Amanda Damiano to start the top of the second, with both runners advancing a base on a grounder by Jasmyne Marcks. With runners at second and third, Danielle Kitchen chopped one back to Gallagher, who got the out at first. Gallagher looked Kossyk back to third, but Kossyk broke for home on the throw to first, giving the Gators their only run of the game.

Stratford picked up two more runs in the bottom of the third, as Normandin led off with a bunt single. She took off for second while the Gators mulled around the infield, before the next batter would even come to the plate. Waters then drove in Normandin with a double to put the Brakettes up 5-1. Serio later doubled in Waters for a 6-1 advantage.

The Brakettes provided plenty of distance between themselves and the Gators in the fourth inning, as they tallied another six runs. The big blows were a pair of home runs, starting with Normandin’s sixth long ball of the 2010 campaign. Denis smashed her fifth homer of the year with one out, putting Stratford up 8-1.

Serio reached on a base hit, and Fishback and Jess Mouse earned walks to load the bases. Cimminello cleared the bases with a double to left-center, putting the Brakettes up 11-1. Normandin smacked a double to plate Cimminello, closing out the scoring at 12-1.

The Brakettes and Gators will play two more games Sunday at 12 noon at DeLuca Field. The Brakettes now stand at 45-1 on the season, and have not dropped a decision since the second game on Opening Night.

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