Eickhoff Takes No-Hitter into 9th, Express Win 7-2
April 24, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Round Rock Express fans were treated to a near-historical moment at Dell Diamond Friday night as Express RHP Jerad Eickhoff (EYE-koff) took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. The team mirrored its recent high-energy style of play with a 7-2 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, however it was not the offense that stole the show.
Eickhoff kicked off his weekend by making his Triple-A debut and gave the Round Rock faithful a memory they will never forget. The Indiana native was called up from the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders just one day ago and showed why he deserved the promotion. The right hander blanked the first six Sky Sox he faced with three of them going down on strikeouts. Colorado Springs DH Bryan Petersen was the first Sky Sox batter to get on base (via walk), but was later caught stealing to end the third inning.
The run support for Eickhoff came in the first inning with two outs on a smoking line drive to center field courtesy of 2B Thomas Field that brought in C Tomas Telis and LF Michael Choice, giving Round Rock an early 2-0 cushion.
Incredible outfield theatrics by CF Ryan Strausborger and RF Jared Hoying in the third inning brought Express fans to their feet and salvaged Eickhoff's fantastic start, keeping the Sky Sox off the scoreboard and Eickhoff's no-hitter alive. The thought of a no-hitter became a little more conceivable as the right hander kept painting the strike zone inning after inning.
Eickhoff threw an immaculate inning in the fourth with a total of nine pitches to three batters, all strikes. Clearly, the baseball gods were keeping an eye on Central Texas as Eickhoff continued to stun not only the Colorado Springs bats, but also the Round Rock crowd.
Thomas Field hit his fifth home run of the season to bring the Round Rock lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. The Express continued to gather men on base with an instant double from 1B Kyle Blanks. The offensive assault was sustained by an Ed Lucas single that brought Blanks home, surging the Express to a 4-0 advantage.
The E-Train blasted the Sky Sox pitching staff for three more runs to the take a 7-0 lead into the ninth inning, but the focus was still on Eickhoff. The silence at Dell Diamond was indescribable as Eickhoff left the dugout for his final act and took the mound in the ninth. Eickhoff entered the ninth inning having faced one over the minimum amount of batters due to an error on 1B Kyle Blanks in the sixth. A jolt to center field by LF Ben Guez caused a gasp from the crowd, but Strausborger got a fantastic jump on the ball and kept the no-hit bid afloat. Eickhoff would go on to walk the next Sky Sox batter, but the ballpark still hummed with suspense.
Eickhoff's magical evening came to a sudden halt as Sky Sox CF Matt Long smashed the first pitch he saw to deep right field, ending the no-hitter. Eickhoff was then pulled by manager Jason Wood to a standing ovation from all in attendance. He finished with 8.1 innings pitched, one hit, two runs (two earned), two walks and 11 strikeouts. Eickoff threw a career-high 108 pitches in the outing and cemented himself in Round Rock Express history. Had Eickhoff gone the distance with the no-hitter, he would have recorded the first no-hitter in Express franchise history. His 8.1 inning effort is still the longest no-hit bid in Express history.
LHP Sam Freeman came on to finish the game and close the door on the series, picking up the final two outs.
Round Rock now heads to Memphis for a four game series with the Redbirds starting tomorrow night. Ross Wolf will take the hill for Round Rock and Boone Whiting will represent Memphis. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. CDT.
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 24, 2015
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- Sky Sox Score Late to Avoid No-Hitter - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Rainiers Edge Albuquerque, 3-2 - Tacoma Rainiers
- 51s Pummel Aces - Reno Aces
- Eickhoff Takes No-Hitter into 9th, Express Win 7-2 - Round Rock Express
- Chihuahuas Win Friday to Sweep Sacramento - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Iowa Slips Past Zephyrs 2-1 to Earn Series Split - Iowa Cubs
- Redbirds Squeeze by Omaha in a Thrilling 8-7 Win - Memphis Redbirds
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- Sounds Avoid Sweep, Defeat Dodgers, 8-1 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Z's Come up Short, Lose 2-1 in Iowa - New Orleans Baby Cakes
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- Series Preview: River Cats to Host Tacoma Rainiers - Sacramento River Cats
- Reno Aces Game Information: Las Vegas 51s (7-8) at Reno Aces (8-7) - Reno Aces
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- Early Outburst Holds in Sox 5-3 Loss to Express - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Aces' Bid for Five Straight Falls Short - Reno Aces
- Tacoma Blanks Albuquerque, 3-0 - Tacoma Rainiers
- Isotopes Offense Stifled, Fall to Rainiers 3-0 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Fresno Handed Their Third Straight One Run Loss In Salt Lake - Fresno Grizzlies
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