Brakettes' Record Win Streak Ends in Akron

July 24, 2012 - The Stratford Brakettes saw their record 168-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday night, as they dropped a pair of 5-3 decisions at the (NPF) Akron Racers. The Brakettes did not go down without a fight, and forced extras in the nightcap with a dramatic, three-run homer by Steffi Call with two outs in the seventh.

Brandice Balschmiter (29-1) pitched the first game for the Brakettes, limiting the Racers to two earned runs. She allowed nine hits and two walks, while striking out five.

The Racers scored an early run in the first, as Lisa Modglin picked up a single and stole second. After a walk by Sam Marder, Kaylyn Castillo sacrificed both runners over, putting two in scoring position with two outs. Modglin came home on a wild pitch for an early 1-0 Akron lead.

The Brakettes took the lead in the fourth inning, started by Becca Carden’s two-out single. Jess Mouse walked to move Carden to second, putting two on.

Kate Bowen followed with a single to drive in Carden with the tying run and push Mouse to second. Amber Radomski then reached on a single up the middle, which allowed Mouse to score and gave the Brakettes the lead, 2-1.

The Racers fought right back in the bottom of the fourth, as Alicia Herron drove in pinch-runner Kelley Montalvo to tie it up at 2-2.

Akron scored three unearned runs in the fifth, as they collected three hits and capitalized on two errors on the Brakette infield. The 5-2 lead stood until the seventh, when the Brakettes again cracked the scoreboard with two outs.

Lindsey Kay Bright, who had two hits in her return to the Brakettes, reached with two outs on a single up the middle. Alisa Heronema sent her to second with a single to left.

Ashley Waters smacked a single to left to score Bright from second, narrowing the margin to 5-3.

Mandie Fishback came up next and nailed a grounder to third, but the ball caromed right to shortstop Alicia Herron, who made the play at first to close out the Akron victory.

Rachele Fico (12-1) lost for the first time in her Brakette career, as she gave up two homers in the late game. She allowed just five hits in the contest, but was victimized by a pair of homers by Brianna Hesson. Fico's career mark with the Brakettes now stands at 84-1.

Stratford fell behind in the bottom of the second, as Hesson went deep with a solo shot. The Racers held the 1-0 edge into the sixth.

The Racers scored twice more in the home sixth, as Nicole Trimboli drove in Aja Paculba with a single and Hesson scored Jessica Garcia on a sac fly. Akron entered the seventh with a 3-0 advantage.

Bright collected another single while leading off the seventh inning. Waters then reached on a base hit with one out, which pushed Bright to second.

Fishback grounded into a fielder’s choice, which forced out Waters at second base for the second out.

Call came to the plate with runners at the corners and two outs. The Brakettes were even down to their last strike, as Call’s game-tying blast came on a 1-2 pitch. The slugger launched her team-leading 12th homer of the season to tie it up and send the game into extra innings.

The Racers also showcased their late-inning power, as Hesson smashed a two-run, walk-off home run in the eighth inning to capture the 5-3 win for the Racers. She finished with 4 RBI in the contest.

Despite the loss, the Brakettes outhit the Racers in the second game, 11-5.

The Brakettes dropped to (49-2) on the season, as the streak came to an end after more than two and a half seasons without a defeat.

The Brakettes will return to action on Friday in Henderson, NV, in the Fastpitch Championship Invitational. The tournament features the top teams from the West coast, including the SoCal Hurricanes and Storm USA (CA).

All Brakettes games from the FCI will be webcast at brakettes.com. We hope to provide live video webcasts for each game, but may have to stream an audio-only broadcast, depending on the speed of the internet connection at the field.

Stay tuned for more details regarding broadcasts from the FCI.