JACKALS COME FROM BEHIND AGAIN TO EDGE SKYHAWKS 4-3

Augusta, NJ – With the score tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning, an RBI single by first baseman Juan Tejeda plated Quinn Stewart from second base with the go-ahead run as the New Jersey Jackals defeated the Sussex Skyhawks 4-3 on Wednesday night at Skylands Park.

The win, the Jackals’ fourth in a row and 18th in their last 20 games, gives New Jersey a 6 ½ game lead over the second place Worcester Tornadoes and Capitales de Quebec with 15 games remaining in the first half of the Can-Am League season. The Jackals’ magic number to clinch the first half and an automatic playoff berth is nine. With the loss, the Skyhawks fall to 14-18.

With Isaac Pavlik on the mound for the Jackals, the Skyhawks opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when an RBI single by second baseman Chris Brown and an RBI groundout off the bat of right fielder Maikel Jova made it 2-0 Sussex.

In the top of the third, the Jackals responded when third baseman Mike Scanzano led off with a walk before scoring later in the inning on an RBI infield single by designated hitter Quinn Stewart to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Sussex pushed a run across in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by third baseman Jeremy Hunt, but Scanzano would score in the top of the fifth on a run-scoring single by shortstop Mike DeJesus before crossing the plate again in the seventh on a game-tying single off the bat of second baseman Marcus Sanders to even the score at 3-3.

After reliever Seth Overbey retired the Skyhawks in order in the bottom of the eighth, Stewart laced a two-out double in the top of the ninth. After right fielder Myron Leslie was intentionally walked, Tejeda dropped a single into center field to give the Jackals the lead.

Jackals’ closer Rusty Tucker entered in the bottom of the ninth and struck out a pair of batters in a perfect frame as he notched his league-leading 11th save of the season.

Overbey (2-1) picked up the win out of the bullpen. Skyhawks reliever Greg Lane (0-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on eight hits in three innings. Both starters pitched well, but neither factored in the decision as Pavlik allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeotus in seven innings and Justin Knoff surrendered a pair of runs in six frames.

The Jackals and Skyhawks conclude their three-game series on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. when New Jersey sends right-hander Stuart Pomeranz (3-2, 3.45 ERA) to the mound against Sussex righty Kyle Ruwe (3-2, 2.66 ERA). Cody Chrusciel has the call with the live 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. 2009 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.