Brakettes Win Final Tuneup before Trip West

July 22, 2012 - The Stratford Brakettes captured a pair of contests from the Lyons (PA) Spirit on Sunday at DeLuca Field, winning their last two home games before a week-long road trip, by 7-2 and 9-0 scores. The Brakettes will travel to play the NPF Akron Racers on Tuesday and compete in the FCI Tournament near Las Vegas next weekend.

The Brakettes took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Alisa Heronema led off with a single to right field. Heronema went to second on a sac bunt by Ashley Waters, and scored on a double by Steffi Call.

Spirit starter Jen Shellhammer pitched a scoreless second, but the Brakettes plated two more runs in the third inning.

After Waters led off the third with a walk, Denise Denis launched her eighth home run of the year. The two-run shot pushed the Brakettes' lead to 3-0.

The Spirit fought back hard in the fifth inning, as they closed the gap on the Brakettes.

Rose Pitkin led off for Lyons and was struck out by Brandice Balschmiter, but a passed ball allowed Pitkin to race to first. After striking out the next batter, Balschmiter allowed a double to Karen Bauer, which sent Pitkin to third. Pitkin scored the first run for the Spirit on a wild pitch, which also moved Bauer to third.

Liz Gall delivered a two-out single to score Bauer, pulling the Spirit within 3-2.

Courtney Hughes then picked up a single to put two on, but Balschmiter struck out the next batter to retire the side.

The Brakettes got some insurance in the home fifth with some small ball.

Becca Carden reached on a one-out single and stole second. She was sacrificed over to third by Kate Bowen and scored on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 4-2.

Waters clobbered a solo shot to start the sixth frame, pushing the margin to 5-2. It was her 10th round-tripper of the season, second only to Call's 11 homers.

Call walked with one out and scored on a triple by Carden for a 6-2 lead. Carden scored the game's final run on a wild pitch, closing out the scoring at 7-2.

Balschmiter (29-0) struck out 11 to earn the win, while giving up two unearned runs. She allowed seven hits and two walks.

Heronema, Denis and Carden each had a pair of hits for the Brakettes.

Gall and Hughes each had two hits for the Spirit.

Rachele Fico returned to form in game two, as she pitched a one-hitter with five strikeouts.

Karen Bauer led off the first with a single, but Fico retired all fifteen batters in order after that. She struck out five and did not allow a walk, improving to 12-0 in the process.

The Brakettes scored twice in the first, as Heronema again led off with a base hit. Heronema stole second and came home on a single by Waters for a 1-0 lead.

Waters took second base as the throw went to third, and scored on a hit by Denis. The 2-0 lead would hold until the third.

Call reached on a fielder's choice in the third and went to second on a walk by Mandie Fishback.

Fishback was forced out at second on a fielder's choice grounder by Carden, putting runners at the corners with two outs. Bowen was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Amber Radomski.

Radomski reached safely on catcher's interference, as the glove made contact with her bat during a swing. That drove in Call from third and extended the inning.

Mariel Schlaefer drove in two more runs with a single, giving the Brakettes a 5-0 advantage.

Waters led off the fourth for Stratford with a double. Denis earned a walk to put two on. Call followed and reached on an infield single, loading the bases with no outs.

Carden cleared the bases with an inside-the-park grand slam to right field, rounding out the scoring at 9-0. The line drive was nearly caught in right by Elaine Bedell, but after she missed the ball on her diving attempt, no one was close enough to nab the speedy Carden. It was her seventh homer of the year.

Fico worked a 1-2-3 fifth inning to close out the run rule-shortened victory.

The Brakettes will play a doubleheader on Tuesday night at the Akron Racers at 6:05 ET.

Both games will be video webcast courtesy of the Akron Racers and the NPF. Click on the link on the brakettes.com home page to navigate to the Racers' broadcast.