Brakettes Come From Behind to Catch Spirit

July 12, 2014 - The Lyons Spirit led the Brakettes 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth on Saturday night, but a six-run explosion propelled Stratford to a 7-2, come-from-behind victory. The game was the third in a round-robin that saw the Spirit best the Mass Pride, 6-2, in the opener and the Brakettes defeat Massachusetts, 8-0, in the second contest.

The Brakettes got on the board in their first game after Quianna Diaz-Patterson led off with a single. Britt Lampert bunted Q over to second and went to third on a bunt single by Denise Denis. Diaz-Patterson came home on a sac fly by Elena Bowman to put the Brakettes ahead, 1-0.

Diaz-Patterson hit her first home run as a Brakette while leading off the home third. Lampert was hit by a pitch and stole second, then taking off for third as the throw from home was off mark.

Denis drove in Lampert with a single for a 3-0 advantage and went to third on a bunt by Fortier, who then stole second uncontested.

Mandie Fishback dropped a perfect suicide squeeze, which sent Denis home with the fourth run. Fortier moved to third on the bunt and scored on a wild pitch, giving Stratford a 5-0 lead.

Diaz-Patterson, Lampert and Denis hit consecutive doubles in the fourth to score two more runs, putting the Brakettes within reach of invoking the run rule.

The Brakettes picked up the decisive run in the bottom of the fifth, when Diaz-Patterson's fourth hit of the night drove in Tatum Buckley to close out the 8-0 win.

The Brakettes went up early against the Spirit in the late game, as Diaz-Patterson continued her torrid hitting with a leadoff single. She stole second and went to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a single by Bowman for a 1-0 edge.

Brandice Balschmiter struck out seven batters in the game to earn her ninth win of the season. She allowed just one hit in the game.

Allyson Fournier threw the last game of the night for the Brakettes, earning the win in a hard-fought battle.

Quianna Diaz-Patterson singled up the middle and stole second, then went to third on a wild pitch. Bowman drove her home with a single to left, putting Stratford up, 1-0.

Courtney Hughes singled for the Spirit to start the second inning and stole second. With two outs, Sarah Bencivenga crushed a two-run shot off Fournier to put Lyons ahead, 2-1.

The 2-1 lead held until the sixth, when the Brakettes plated six runs to regain control.

Tatum Buckley led off the home sixth with a double. Mariel Schlaefer reached on an infield single, as Buckley stayed put. Pinch-hitter Amber Radomski dropped a sacrifice to move both runners over, bringing the top of the lineup back up for the Brakettes.

Diaz-Patterson reached on an error, which allowed Buckley to score the tying run. Lampert followed with a triple, sending both Schlaefer and Diaz-Patterson across for a 4-2 advantage.

Denis drove in Lampert with a double of her own, putting Stratford up by a 5-2 score.

Bowman capped off the scoring at 7-2 with a two-run blast, her third homer of the year.

The Brakettes improved to 31-0 on the season with the pair of wins. Stratford returns to action on Sunday with a matinee doubleheader against the Lyons Spirit, starting at 11 am at DeLuca Field.

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