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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Jackals Overcome Early Six-run Deficit To Rally Past Skyhawks

August 5, 2010 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Augusta, NJ - A day after they tallied their largest margin of victory of the season, the New Jersey Jackals overcame their biggest deficit of the year en-route to a 7-6, extra-inning win over the Sussex Skyhawks on Thursday night to salvage a split of their four-game series at Skylands Park.

After falling behind 6-0 through four innings, the Jackals plated seven unanswered runs capped by right fielder Kevin Clark's go-ahead single up the middle with two outs in the top of the 10th inning to plate third baseman Abraham Nunez with what proved to be the winning run.

In his professional debut, Sussex starter Jimmer Kennedy was dominant early as he held the Jackals to just one baserunner through four frames while striking out five of the first 11 batters he faced. After the Skyhawks plated a run against Paul Fagan in the bottom of the second on a bloop RBI single off the bat of Vincent Blue to open the scoring, Can-Am League RBI leader Caleb Stewart blasted a three-run home run to left field to give Sussex a 4-0 advantage in the third inning. The Skyhawks tacked on two runs in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead.

The Jackals began their comeback bid in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases for shortstop Mike DeJesus, who ripped an RBI single to put New Jersey on the scoreboard. The next batter, center fielder Adam Godwin, cleared the bases when he lined a three-run triple past the diving effort of Sussex left fielder Kraig Binick. Godwin's third triple of the season cut the Jackals deficit to 6-4.

An inning later, the Jackals completed their comeback when left fielder Jacob Butler blasted his league-leading 14th home run against reliever Kevin Gunter after a one-out single by Carlos Sosa to tie the contest at six.

The Jackals had the leadoff batter aboard in the seventh and they received back-to-back one-out walks in the eighth, but they weren't able to break the deadlock. Meanwhile, reliever Edgar Estanga held the Skyhawks scoreless for two and two-thirds as Fagan and Estanga retired 11 of 12 Sussex batters at one point from the fifth through eighth innings.

With two outs in the ninth and runners on the corners in a tied contest, Jackals manager Joe Calfapietra went to the bullpen and handed his closer, Romas Hicks, the unenviable task of trying to retire Stewart with the winning run 90 feet away. Stewart flew out to the warning track in center field and, after the Jackals plated the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth, Hicks (1-2) struck out the side in the bottom of the frame to notch his first win of the season.

In his third start with New Jersey, Fagan allowed six runs on eight hits in six innings. Fagan finished strong however as he retired six of the final seven batters he faced to aid New Jersey's comeback effort. Kennedy, a 23-year-old rookie out of Rider University who was signed earlier in the day, fanned seven batters while surrendering four runs on four hits in five innings. Sussex reliever Jared Locke (5-4) absorbed the loss despite giving up just one hit in three innings.

The Jackals (8-9 second half, 27-36 overall) head to Massachusetts to begin a three-game weekend set against the Worcester Tornadoes on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Hanover Insurance Park. New Jersey will send southpaw Ryan Lobban (3-2, 5.27 ERA) to the mound against his former team to begin the series. Cody Chrusciel has the live call on the Jackals webcast beginning 10 minutes prior to first pitch at www.jackals.com.

The New Jersey Jackals, proud members of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, play their home games at Yogi Berra Stadium located on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, NJ. 2010 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.

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