FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
June 22, 2007 815-774-2881

RENAULT TOSSES SCORELESS GEM; JACKHAMMERS WIN 4-0

JOLIET, IL-Joliet JackHammers right-handed pitcher Nick Renault (5-1) pitched seven and one-thirds scoreless innings to pick up his fifth victory of the season as the JackHammers (14-19) beat the Winnipeg Goldeyes (18-14) 4-0 before 5,635 fans at Silver Cross Field on Friday night.

Joliet scored three runs in the third inning against Goldeyes right-handed pitcher Greg Bicknell (0-3). Eric Scriven (1-4) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second base on a single by Anthony Monegan (2-5). Chris Brown (0-4) laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position.

Cory Harris (1-3) responded with a two-run single to score Scriven and Monegan and give the JackHammers a 2-0 lead.

After Harris singled, Juan Diaz (3-4) hit a base hit before Derek Nicholson (1-3) walked to load the bases. Chad Ehrnsberger (1-4) grounded out to score Harris and give the JackHammers a 3-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, Harris led off the inning with a walk and went to second base on a single by Diaz. Nicholson hit an RBI single to score Harris to give Joliet a 4-0 lead.

Renault pitched seven and one-thirds innings and allowed no runs on four hits while walking two Goldeyes and striking out nine men. Joliet left-hander Derrick Ellison pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings and struck out four men. JackHammers pitching recorded 13 strikeouts in the game.

Loose Gravel: The nine strikeouts by Renault is the most by a JackHammers starting pitcher this season. The previous high was seven set by both Nate Sevier (June 12 @ Fargo-Moorhead) and Renault (June 19 vs. Schaumburg).

The JackHammers and Goldeyes continue their three-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. The JackHammers will send left-handed pitcher Brian Forystek (1-1, 4.73 for AA New Britain (Minnesota Twins) to the mound against Winnipeg right-hander Joel Posey (2-2, 4.38). The JackHammers will host a fireworks display at the end of the game sponsored by Pepsi. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. and the play-by-play starts at 7:05 p.m. on 1340 WJOL.

The JackHammers are home through Wednesday, June 27. For tickets or for more information, please give the JackHammers a call at (815) 726-BALL (2255), go online to www.jackhammerbaseball.com, or stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours.