ROGOWSKI CARRIES JACKALS TO SECOND STRAIGHT COMEBACK WIN

Nashua, NH – New Jersey Jackals left fielder Ryan Rogowski finished a home run shy of the cycle as the Jackals scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat the American Defenders of New Hampshire 8-4 on Monday night at Historic Holman Stadium.

In a game played before just 1,012 fans, the Jackals broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the eighth inning with rookie reliever Luis Ramos on the mound. After Ramos hit second baseman Marcus Sanders to lead off the frame, Rogowski capped a 12-pitch at-bat by lacing a run-scoring triple down the right field line to give the Jackals their first lead of the night at 5-4. Ramos then intentionally walked designated hitter Quinn Stewart and issued a free pass to first baseman Myron Leslie to load the bases before he was lifted from the game in favor of fellow rookie Alex Woodson.

With Woodson on the hill, shortstop Mike DeJesus sent a two-runs single to center to extend New Jersey’s lead to 7-4, which catcher Matt Lauderdale followed with an RBI single to conclude the scoring.

The Defenders got the offense going early as back-to-back one-out singles by center fielder Edward Ovalle and first baseman Jerod Edmondson in the first inning placed runners on the corners as the Defenders pushed across the game’s first run when Edmondson stole second and Ovalle scored from third on the throw to second by Jackals’ catcher Matt Lauderdale. Then In the bottom of the second, third baseman Chris Kelly led off with a double before the next batter, catcher Argenis Tavarez, ripped his second home run of the season over the short brick wall down the left field line to give New Hampshire a 3-0 lead against New Jersey starter Giuseppe Granitto.

In the top of the third, the Jackals got in on the action and cut their deficit to 3-1 with Miguel Flores on the mound for New Hampshire when Sanders drew a two-out walk before scoring on an RBI double off the bat of Rogowski. In the fifth, right fielder Quentin Davis led off with a triple to right past a diving Angel Molina before coming home on a groundout to second off the bat of third baseman Mike Scanzano.

In the top of the sixth inning, Leslie unloaded a solo home run, his eighth of the season and his first in 20 games, to right field to pull the Jackals within one at 4-3. One inning later, New Jersey tied the game at 4-4 when Lauderdale led off with a triple into the right field corner and scored on a wild pitch by Flores.

Neither starter factored in the decision as Granitto allowed four runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings while Flores yielded four runs on six hits with five strikeouts and a walk in seven frames. Jackals’ reliever Kevin Gunter (4-0) hurled 2 ½ scoreless innings to earn the victory. Ramos (4-4) took the loss.

With the win, the Jackals improve to 30-19 overall and 2-0 in the second half while the Defenders fall to a league-worst 21-28 after dropping their first two games of the half.

The Jackals and Defenders continue their four-game series on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. when New Jersey sends 24-year-old left-hander and Can-Am League ERA leader A.J. Wideman (5-0, 1.92 ERA) to the mound for his 10th start of the season against New Hampshire right-hander Isaac Burkett (3-5, 6.58 ERA) at Historic Holman Stadium. 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. The Jackals have clinched the 2009 Can-Am League first-half title and an automatic berth in the playoffs, which begin on September 9. Playoff and regular season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.