FIVE-RUN SUSSEX FIFTH SPOILS POWERFUL JACKALS DAY

Augusta, NJ – Jordan Newton homered twice and Jacob Butler laced a third-inning grand slam, but the Sussex Skyhawks put up five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning en route to a 7-6 win over the New Jersey Jackals on Saturday afternoon at Skylands Park.

The Skyhawks plated the game’s first run in the bottom of the second inning against New Jersey starter Chris Allen. After back-to-back leadoff singles, third baseman Nick Giarraputo hit a two-out dribbler to the left side of the infield which scored first baseman Kris Sanchez from third.

However, Butler’s recent power surge continued in the third inning. After New Jersey loaded the bases with no outs on a walk by right fielder Kevin Clark and singles by third baseman Abraham Nunez and Newton, Butler connected on a grand slam, his third home run in seven games this season, to give the Jackals a 4-1 advantage. Newton added a two-out solo shot in the top of the fourth to extend New Jersey’s lead to four.

Trailing 5-1, the Skyhawks mounted a five-run attack in the fifth inning to take the lead. Second baseman Joe Persichina and third baseman Nick Giarraputo reached on back-to-back singles to begin the frame and two batters later, shortstop Chase Fontaine laced a two-run double to center to pull Sussex within two at 5-3. After center fielder Carl Loadenthal walked, designated hitter Caleb Stewart launched his first long ball of the season, a three-run blast to left, to make it 6-5 Skyhawks.

Sussex used a Persichina RBI groundout to tack on a run in the eighth before Newton pulled New Jersey back within one with a one-out home run in the ninth, but Sussex closer Duaner Sanchez retired Butler and first baseman Jabe Bergeron for the game’s final two outs to notch his fifth save of the season. Sanchez, a former New York Met, had allowed just one hit in 4 1/3 scoreless innings prior to Newton’s second homer of the day.

On the mound, Allen (0-2) allowed six runs on 10 hits over five innings in the losing effort. He walked one batter and struck out two. Sussex starter Jeff Icenogle lasted just four innings after allowing five runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The win went to Skyhawks’ reliever Tim Stringer (2-1), who entered in the fifth and tossed three innings of shutout relief.

For New Jersey, Newton scored three runs and finished 3-for-4 at the plate while catcher Scott Knazek singled three times in four at-bats and threw out both of the Skyhawks’ attempted base stealers.

The Jackals (8-8) and Skyhawks (7-7) conclude their three-game weekend series on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. when New Jersey sends left-hander A.J. Wideman (2-1, 2.70 ERA) to the mound for his fourth start of the season against Sussex righty Jusef Frias (1-0, 6.19 ERA). Cody Chrusciel and Corey Scheiner have the live call on the Jackals 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. 2010 season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available by calling 973-746-7434. Visit the Jackals online at www.jackals.com.

Jackal Bites: The loss was New Jersey’s fourth one-run defeat of the season. The Jackals have been involved in nine one-run contests… Butler’s grand slam was the Jackals second hit in 20 at-bats with the bases loaded… Butler’s eighth-inning solo home run on Friday was the game’s only run in a 1-0 New Jersey win… Right-hander Mike Pontius entered with two runners aboard and one out in the eighth and tossed an inning of scoreless relief to lower his team-best ERA to 1.04… Rookie left-hander Lou Fernandez picked off his second runner of the season when he nabbed Kraig Binick, the Can-Am League’s leading base stealer, off first base in the bottom of the seventh… Manager Joe Calfapietra shuffled New Jersey’s lineup as second baseman Argenis Reyes was bumped from second to seventh in the order, marking the first time he hadn’t hit second this season. Reyes went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt and has just one hit in his last 20 at-bats… Abraham Nunez failed to draw a walk for the first time since June 2. He had walked at least once in each of New Jersey’s past nine games and currently leads the Can-Am League with 17 free passes… Sussex holds a 4-2 lead in the season series as the Jackals and Skyhawks are scheduled to meet 24 total times during the 2010 regular season.