Power Surge Leads Brakettes Past Jersey

June 15, 2013 - The Brakettes rode four homers to a pair of Saturday night wins over the Jersey Fusion, invoking the run-rule twice, with 8-0 and 10-0 decisions. Steffi Call hit a long ball in each game, and Becca Carden and Elise Fortier both went yard in the early matchup.

Sam Greiner (4-0) picked up the win with a two-hitter in the first game, striking out four and walking one.

Fusion centerfielder Christina Sykora led off the top of the first and reached on an error. She was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Hannah Mucerino, but Greiner escaped by inducing a groundout for the last out.

The Brakettes grabbed the early edge in the first, as Kate Bowen led off with a base hit. Bowen stole second base before Ashley Waters sac bunted her over to third. With two outs, Call delivered a single to bring home Bowen with the Brakettes' first run.

Pichalski kept the Brakettes from adding to the score until fourth, when Call walked to start the frame. Fishback singled to move Call over to second, before Carden tried to advance the runners with a bunt. The sac attempt bounded back toward the mound, and Pichalski fielded and got the lead runner at third. Mouse then reached on a bunt single to load the bases. With two outs, Lampert drove in Fishback with a single for a 2-0 lead.

Stratford opened it up in the fifth inning, scoring four quick runs in just minutes.

Fortier reached on a one-out single and scored on Call's first blast of the day, her third of the year. The two-run shot pushed the lead to 4-0. Fishback continued the rally with another base hit, and Carden launched her first homer of the season to stretch the margin to 6-0.

Greiner didn’t allow a hit until Christina Sykora reached on an infield single in the sixth. Sara Poole followed with a single of her own, the only other Fusion hit in the game. Greiner retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.

Fortier joined the homer brigade in the bottom of the sixth, smashing a one-out solo shot, her second of 2013. Call earned a walk in a 7-0 game and went to second when Fishback also reached base on a free pass. Carden drove Call home from second with a single to close out the scoring at 8-0, ending the game due to the run rule.

Fusion starting pitcher Taylor August pitched in and out of trouble in the first inning of the nightcap, loading the bases before getting Carden to fly out to center. She also allowed two to reach in the second frame, but again kept the Brakettes off the scoreboard.

The Brakettes finally broke through in the third inning, when Waters led off with a double. Fortier reached base when a fly ball was dropped in right field, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Call came through with a double, scoring both Waters and Fortier for a 2-0 advantage.

Fishback also reached on an error, which sent Call to third, putting runners at the corners. Carden drove in Call with a single for a 3-0 edge, before Fishback raced home on another Fusion miscue. The lead stood at 4-0 entering the fourth.

Stratford added to the lead in the fourth, with Waters starting the rally with a leadoff walk. Fortier sent her home with a triple, extending the margin to 5-0.

Call followed with her second home run of the night, her fourth of the year. The Brakettes held a 7-0 lead, but would need more to end it early.

Carden singled with one out and moved up when Jess Mouse reached on a fielder’s choice. Amber Radomski reached on an error to load the bases for Lampert, who did not disappoint.

Lampert roped a double to score two runs, stretching the score to 9-0. Greiner sent Radomski home from third with a sac fly, closing out the scoring at 10-0.

Call worked a 1-2-3 fifth inning to wrap up the decision, improving to 6-0 in the process.

The Brakettes improved their 2013 record to 12-0. The Brakettes will return to action Sunday at noon with a 12:00 doubleheader against the Jersey Fusion.

All 2013 Brakettes home games are video webcast at brakettes.com.