Brakettes Move to 29-0 With Sweep of Pride

July 11, 2014 - The Stratford Brakettes took two from the Mass Pride on Friday night at Deluca Field, grabbing 4-0 and 10-1 wins from their rivals to the north. Brandice Balschmiter threw a three-hit shutout in the early game, while Cassie Ruscz slugged her first home run as a Brakette in the nightcap.

Balschmiter fanned 11 batters in her appearance, scattering three singles in seven innings. She walked four, but seemed to be in control throughout, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. Balschmiter moved to 14-0 on the year with the decision.

The Brakettes also loaded the bases to no avail in the first inning, as Pride starter Anna O'Niell was able to pitch out of trouble.

Stratford cracked the scoreboard in the third, with Quianna Diaz-Patterson starting the rally with a bunt single. With one out, Denise Denis walked to put two on. Elise Fortier reached on a bloop single to centerfield, which froze the runners as it appeared to be a catchable ball. When ball dropped in, the throw from center went to third and sailed into foul territory, allowing Diaz-Patterson and Denise Denis to race home for a 2-0 edge.

Fortier reached second on the play and scored on an RBI single by Mandie Fishback. The 3-0 lead would stand until the fifth inning.

After Denis, Fortier and Fishback walked in succession to load the bases in the fifth, Fishback reached on a dropped fly ball to left. Denis scampered across the plate to close out the scoring at 4-0.

Diaz-Patterson was the only Brakette with two hits. Bridget Lemire, Mikayla Panko and Maggie Quealy picked up the hits for Massachusetts.

Allyson Fournier earned the victory in the second matchup, giving up one run on just two hits. She struck out 10 in the run rule-shortened five inning win to improve to 15-0.

The Brakettes scored six times in the home first, with the first six batters crossing the plate. Diaz-Patterson and Britt Lampert reached on singles to start the stanza, and Denis followed with a base on balls. Fortier crushed a bases-clearing double to put the Brakettes ahead, 3-0.

Elena Bowman followed with her second homer of 2014, a towering blast to left field, to extend the margin to 5-0.

Fishback walked and moved to third on an error, then scored on a single by Diaz-Patterson, ending the productive inning with a six-run lead.

Jenn Robillard reached on an infield single to start the fourth, ending Fournier's bid for perfection after three innings. She stole second base and scored on a base hit up the middle by Allysa Zahka, cutting the Brakette lead to 6-1.

Stratford put it out of reach in the fourth inning, after Fortier, Bowman and Fishback walked to load the bases.

Tatum Buckley launched a deep fly ball to center to score the tagging Fortier, extending the advantage to 7-1.

Ruscz followed and crushed her first homer as a Brakette to left field, a three-run shot to push the lead to 10-1.

Fournier closed out the top of the fifth to secure the win, as the Brakettes improved to 29-0 on the season.

The Brakettes will take part in a three-team, round robin on Saturday night at DeLuca Field, taking on the Mass Pride at 7:00 and the Lyons (PA) Spirit at 9:00.

All 2014 Brakettes' games are live video webcast on www.bralettes.com.