Mouse's Slam Leads Brakettes past Seahawks

August 2, 2012 - Jess Mouse smashed a grand slam in the first inning of a 9-0 win over the Stratford Seahawks on Wednesday night at DeLuca Field, putting the Brakettes on their way to a run-rule shortened, five-inning victory. The Brakettes also took the nightcap in five innings, 8-0, as Rachele Fico earned both wins on the evening.

The homer was the first of the year for third baseman Mouse, who often draws praise for her play on the defensive side of the ball. Mouse put on an impressive display with her glove at the hot corner throughout the FCI tournament in Henderson, NV last weekend.

Ashley Waters reached on a one-out double in the bottom of the first and watched as Mandie Fishback earned walk. With two outs, Becca Carden also earned a walk to load the bases.

Mouse followed and drilled her grand slam over the fence in left-center, giving the Brakettes an early, 4-0 advantage.

The Brakettes added four more runs in the second, after Fico led off with a double. The Brakette pitcher made the most of her rare opportunities against the Seahawks, picking up three hits and driving in two runs on the night.

Fico was pinch-run for by Kate Bowen, who scored on a single by Waters for a 5-0 lead.

Mandie Fishback came up next and reached on a single, putting two on with two outs. Steffi Call clobbered her 16th homer of the year, a three-run shot, to stretch the lead to 8-0.

After consecutive walks by Bowen and Amber Radomksi in the third, Fico lined another double. The hit brought in Bowen and closed out the scoring at 9-0.

Fico allowed two hits and a walk in the early contest, striking out seven batters along the way.

Brit Longo and Shari Paci had the base hits for the Seahawks.

The Brakettes were held scoreless in the first inning of the late game by Mary Sciglimpaglia, but they would crack the scoreboard in the second.

Call led off the home second with her team-leading 17th homer of the year, giving the Brakettes a 1-0 edge.

Mandie Fishback doubled and went to third on a wild pitch, but had to stay put as Carden reached on an infield single. With one out, Bowen singled to drive in Fishback and move Carden to second. The run stretched the margin to 2-0.

Radomski was then plunked by a pitch to load the bases for Fico.

Fico again came through at the plate, picking up a base hit to score Carden for a 3-0 lead.

A single by Alisa Heronema brought Bowen home with the Brakettes⤙ fourth run, and Radomski scored when Denise Denis walked with the bases loaded.

The Brakettes held a 5-0 lead entering the second inning.

Fishback collected her second hit of the game while leading off the third. She scored when Carden drilled her 10th homer of the year. The blast extended the Brakettes⤙ lead to 7-0.

After threatening in the fourth but not scoring, the Brakettes won the game and left the Seahawks on the field in the bottom of the fifth.

After Sierra Shehan retired the first two Brakettes in the fifth, Heronema reached on a double, her third hit of the game. Waters reached on a double of her own, scoring Heronema with the game-ending run. The 8-0 contest was called due to the run-rule after five innings.

Fico had a stretch of nine straight strikeouts in the second game, and finished with 13 K⤙s. She fanned four batters in the second inning, after Patty Sciglimpaglia reached on a ball in the dirt on strike three.

Fico allowed just two hits in the game, while walking one and hitting a batter. She improved to 17-1 on the season with the pair of victories.

Veronica Alicea had both hits for the Seahawks.

The Brakettes have the weekend off, but return to action on Tuesday night, August 7th, against the St. Louis Saints. The annual pre-WMS doubleheader pits the two finalists from the 2010 and 2011 WMS Championships against each other at 7:00 pm.

All Brakette home games are video webcast at brakettes.com.