JACKALS RALLY CUT SHORT IN 4-3 LOSS AT SUSSEX

Augusta, NJ – Trailing 4-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth, Jackals’ right fielder Quentin Davis was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base. Davis proceeded to steal second, but was then picked off by Sussex catcher Jon Gossard as the Sussex Skyhawks hung on to defeat the New Jersey Jackals 4-3 in Thursday night’s rain-delayed season-opener at Skylands Park.

Sussex built an early 4-0 lead, which proved to be enough run support for starter Jeff Icenogle (1-0), who struck out five batters and allowed just two hits in five shutout innings to earn the win.

In the first inning, Skyhawks’ left fielder Kraig Binick reached on a throwing error by Jackals’ shortstop Mike DeJesus before the next batter, second baseman Chase Fontaine, laced a double to right center to plate Binick with the game’s first run. That 1-0 score held until the bottom of the fifth, when four consecutive hits to begin the frame led to three more Sussex runs and signaled the end of the day for Jackals’ starter A.J. Wideman.

Wideman (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs, three earned, on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts in five innings after going 10-1 for New Jersey a season ago.

New Jersey got on the board in the top of the sixth, scoring a pair of runs against Sussex reliever Justin Dignelli. Center fielder Jeff Grose led off with a walk and scored on a ground ball off the bat of designated hitter Shawn Riggans to make it 4-1. Later in the inning, an RBI single by DeJesus scored Davis, who had singled, to cut the Jackals deficit to 4-2.

The Jackals tacked on a run in the top of the eighth with Riggans reached on a fielders’ choice and scored on a passed ball to pull New Jersey within one at 4-3, but Sussex righty Duaner Sanchez tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his first save of the season.

For the Skyhawks, Fontaine doubled twice and was hit by a pair of pitches, while right fielder Kade Keowen was 3-for-4 with a double.

The Jackals and Skyhawks continue their four-game series on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. when 6-foot-7 right-hander Dan Griffin heads to the mound to make his New Jersey debut against Sussex righty Jusef Frias. Cody Chrusciel has the call of the live webcast beginning at 6:25 p.m.

Jackal Bites: First pitch, which was originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m., was delayed 37 minutes due to thunderstorms… Ed Ott, a former Pittsburgh Pirates catcher who spent the past three seasons as the Jackals’ hitting and third base coach, made his regular-season debut as Skyhawks’ manager… The Jackals defeated the Skyhawks 7-6 in the lone exhibition contest for either team on Saturday, May 22 in Little Falls, NJ. Thursday night’s season-opener featured the same southpaw pitching matchup as the exhibition with Wideman squaring off against Icenogle.

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.