AA Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

Jackals Swipe Game One 7-3

Published on September 2, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks News Release


FARGO, ND - In his return to Newman Outdoor Field, Brian Ernst shined as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks fell 7-3 at the hands of the New Jersey Jackals before 2,857 fans at Newman Outdoor Field in inter-league play.

It was a battle of former teammates as Ernst squared off against Fargo-Moorhead's Tyler Herron (teammates in 2012). Ernst spent the majority of 2010-2014 with the 'Hawks and had already faced his former team once this season.

New Jersey got to Herron right away in the first. The Jackals led off the game with three consecutive hits, the third being an A.J. Kirby-Jones' double to right-center that plated two. Jones advanced to third on a throwing error and proceeded to score on a Mark Threlkeld groundout making it 3-0.

Ernst had to battle his way out of trouble in the first and third. In the first Drew Muren found himself stranded 90 feet from home after Ernst struck out back-to-back batters. Ernst went on to retire five straight until Muren sliced a ball to center in the third and smoothly wheeled into third base with a triple but another strikeout left him stranded.

After New Jersey tacked on a run in the top half, Fargo-Moorhead would get on the board in the home half of the fourth inning. Luke Bailey led off with a single and would advance to second on a Michael Wing base hit bringing Ryan Pineda to the plate. The second baseman delivered with a groundball double down the left field line scoring Bailey making it 4-1. The 'Hawks missed a key opportunity as Wing and Pineda would be stranded at second and third.

The RedHawks would get a pair of runs in the fifth off a two-run Luke Bailey homer, his 14th of the season and sixth as a RedHawk, but the Jackals scored two in the top half of the frame making it 6-3 after five innings.

The tandem of Isaac Pavlik, Brandon Sisk and Alex Powers kept Fargo-Moorhead at bay. Pavlik loaded the bases in the sixth but a double play ball ended the threat. In the seventh Joe Dunigan reached second but no further Wing flew out to deep center.

A.J. Kirby-Jones took it upon himself to give the Jackals an insurance run in the seventh. Kirby-Jones took the second offering from Tyler Herron and crushed it to left for a solo shot giving New Jersey a comfortable 7-3 lead and ending Herron's line.

The Jackals would go on to win by that same final as Herron (6-7) took the loss going 6.1 innings allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts. Ernst (improved to 8-7 with the win and defeated his former club going five innings and giving up three runs on seven hits with three walks and seven punch outs.

Fresh off earning American Association Player of the Month honors for the month of August, Drew Muren went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Luke Bailey had an even better evening, going 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and another pair batted in.

With the loss the RedHawks slip to 40-54 while the Jackals improve to 52-39 and cut their magic number for making the Can-Am playoffs to just one game. Game two is set for tomorrow night as Brandon Mann (6-9, 4.23 ERA) takes the hill just five strikeouts away from breaking the American Association single season strikeout record. First pitch is set for 7:02 with a 6:40 pre-game show on 740 AM The Fan.

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American Association Stories from September 2, 2015


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