Brakettes Continue Power Surge vs. Rock Gold

June 20, 2014 - The Stratford Brakettes relied on a pair of no-hitters thrown by Brandice Balschmiter and Allyson Fournier to stop the Newtown (PA) Rock Friday night at DeLuca Field, 8-0 and 9-0. Both games were run rule-shortened contests. Elise Fortier ended the first game in six innings with a walk-off grand slam, while Mariel Schlaefer brought the nightcap to a close with a three-run shot in the fifth.

Fortier clobbered three home runs on the night, including two in the opener. Schlaefer had two long balls in the second matchup.

Balschmiter struck out eight to secure her fourth win of the year in the first contest, which was a 2-0 game until the sixth.

Quianna Diaz-Patterson got the Brakettes going early in the first with a leadoff walk. Britt Lampert reached ona bunt single, which pushed Diaz-Patterson to second. Denise Denis flew out deep to right, sending both tagging baserunners up 60 feet. Elena Bowman reached on an error with two outs, which also sent Diaz-Patterson home with the game's first run.

After a scoreless second inning, Fortier stretched the lead to 2-0 with a solo shot, her fifth home run of the year. The slim lead lasted until the Brakettes exploded for six runs in the sixth inning.

Jess Mouse led off and reached first on another infield miscue. Buckley dropped a bunt and both runners were safe after the throw went to second.

Amber Radomski sacrificed both baserunners to put two in scoring position, and Diaz-Patterson drove in Mouse with a single up the middle. Britt Lampert followed and reached on an error, allowing Buckley to race home for a 4-0 margin. Denis walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Fortier.

The reigning Brakette home run champ did not disappoint, as she crushed a grand slam to end the game, 8-0 in six innings.

Fournier threw her second straight perfect game in the late contest, striking out 12 batters in five inning. She retired the last 11 batters she faced with a strikeout.

The Brakettes cracked the scoreboard in the third inning, when Diaz-Patterson led off with a walk. Lampert reached on an infield single and went to second on an error, which sent Diaz-Patterson home for a 1-0 edge.

With one out, Fortier hit her third dinger of the night, a two-run shot which stretched the advantage to 3-0. It was her seventh homer of the year and the 30th in her two-year career.

Schlaefer hit her second home run in as many days in the fourth inning, a solo blast to right field, to push the lead to 4-0.

Fortier and Bowman started the decisive fifth inning with back-to-back doubles, the latter of which scored Fortier for a 5-0 lead. Fishback clipped the right field line with a looping single, pushing Bowman to third in the process.

Mouse followed with an infield single, scoring Bowman to extend the margin to 6-0. With one out, Schlaefer smashed her second homer of the game to leave the Rock on the field. The three-run shot was her third of the season and closed out the scoring at 9-0.

Fournier improved to 8-0 in 2014 with the win, as the Brakettes moved to 13-0 on the year.

The Brakettes and Newtown Rock will return to action with a doubleheader on Saturday night at 7:00 at DeLuca Field in Stratford.

All 2014 Brakettes' games are live video webcast at www.brakettes.com.