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Can-Am New Jersey Jackals

Sussex Spoils Good Weather with Doubleheader Sweep of Jackals

August 23, 2009 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
New Jersey Jackals News Release


Little Falls, NJ - Despite the picture perfect weather, Sunday afternoon turned into a sour affair for the New Jersey Jackals as they were swept by the Sussex Skyhawks in a double-header at Skylands Park by final scores of 5-3 in game one and 7-3 in game two.

In game one the Jackals took an early lead on Sussex starter Mike Schellinger, scoring a run in the top of the first inning on an RBI-single from first baseman Myron Leslie that scored shortstop Mike DeJesus from second. That lead would hold up early as New Jersey starter Isaac Pavlik (5-6) retired the first six batters that he faced before the Skyhawks struck in the third.

After shortstop Mark Pappas reached base on a fielder's choice, left fielder Ryan Crespi ripped an RBI-triple down the right field line. Crespi would come around to score on the play as well when Jackals right fielder Rafael Cabreja fired an errant throw that was sent to the backstop, making it a 2-1 lead for the Skyhawks. Sussex would add one more run in the fourth on an RBI-single from catcher Ray Serrano that followed a double from right fielder Maikel Jova. The action would then come to a halt when the skies opened up and torrential rain began to fall at the ballpark, forcing the game to be suspended until the following day.

When play resumed the following afternoon, the Jackals sent right-hander Kevin Gunter out to the mound and after recording the final out of the fourth inning, would allow two more runs in the fifth inning. After designated hitter Jorge Morena blasted an RBI-triple, Jova grounded out to short, scoring the fifth and final run of the game for the Skyhawks.

New Jersey would make a late push, getting a pair of runs in the sixth on an RBI-single from designated hitter Quinn Stewart and a subsequent error on Sussex center fielder Ron Perodin that allowed an additional run to score on the play. Those would be the only runs the Jackals would get in the final four innings of the contest, as right-handers Sandy Nin and Greg Lane would combine to go the rest of the way for the Skyhawks in the win. Nin (2-7) earned his second win of the season in relief and Lane, a rookie out of Binghamton, earned his first professional save in pitching a perfect ninth inning.

In game two, the Skyhawks jumped all over Jackals starter Giuseppe Granitto (1-4), scoring all seven of their runs in the first three innings. In the bottom of the first, Sussex got the first five men on base on their way to a four-run inning. After Moreno and Perodin walked, Jova struck again, bringing in the first two runs of the game with a two-run single. Later in the inning with the bases loaded , first baseman John Urick would walk to force in a run before third baseman Jeremy Hunt lifted a deep fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly. The Skyhawks added two more runs in the second on a sac fly from Serrano and an RBI-double from second baseman Chris Brown to make it a 5-0 ballgame.

The Jackals would get on the board in the top of the third with an RBI-single from DeJesus and a sac fly from center fielder Timo Perez to cut into the lead. The momentum would quickly be stifled as the Skyhawks plated their final run of the game in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly from Moreno, giving starter Kyle Ruwe (8-5) all the run support he would need on the way to the win.

New Jersey would get one final run in the fourth inning on an RBI-fielder's choice from designated hitter Rafael Cabreja, but would be shut out the final three innings by Ruwe and right-hander Stephen Fox who pitched the six and seventh.

New Jersey will be back in action on Tuesday when they hit the road for Nashua, NH to begin a three-game series with the American Defenders of New Hampshire; first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. The Jackals will give the baseball to left-hander A.J. Wideman on Tuesday night while the Defenders have yet to name a starter. Joey Whelan will have the live call of the game at www.jackals.com with the pre-game show starting 10 minutes prior.

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