FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
June 23, 2007 815-774-2881

JACKHAMMERS SNAP A 3-3 TIE; WIN 5-4 OVER WINNIPEG

JOLIET, IL-The Joliet JackHammers (15-19) scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to beat the Winnipeg Goldeyes (18-15) by a score of 5-4 and earn their second straight win before a crowd of 5,009 fans at Silver Cross Field on Saturday night.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes scored one early run against JackHammers right-handed pitcher Brian Forystek in the fifth inning. Luis Allen (1-2) led off the inning with a single and moved to second base on sacrifice bunt by Max Poulin (1-3). Fehlandt Lentini (1-5) hit an RBI double to score Allen and give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead.

The JackHammers scored three runs in the fifth inning on four infield singles. Dennis Blackmon (1-3) hit a two-out single and advanced to second base on a single by Eric Scriven (1-4). Anthony Monegan (0-1) walked to load the bases for Chris Brown (2-3), who hit an RBI single to score Blackmon and make it a 1-1 tied game.

Cory Harris (1-4) came up to the plate and hit a slow-rolling baseball up the first base line. Goldeyes starting pitcher Joel Posey fielded the baseball and went to tag Harris out just shy of the first base bag. Harris side-swiped the tag and reached first base safely. Scriven scored on the single and Monegan crossed home plate on an error assessed to the pitcher. The JackHammers took a 3-1 lead.

The Goldeyes tied the game at 3-3 when Poulin launched a two-run home run over the right field wall at Silver Cross Field in the seventh inning. Poulin’s second home run of the season tied the game at 3-3.

JackHammers starting right-handed pitcher Brian Forystek pitched five innings and allowed one run on five hits to get a no-decision.

The JackHammers took the lead for good in the seventh inning. Monegan worked a walk against Posey and stole second base. Brown hit an RBI single to drive in Monegan and give the JackHammers a 4-3 lead.

In the eighth inning, Joliet scored an insurance run to increase its lead to 5-3. Juan Diaz (1-4) led off the inning with a single and went to second base on a single by Chad Ehrnsberger (1-4). Tim Hutting (1-4) reached first base on an error by Goldeyes third baseman Scott Schade, which loaded the bases. Dennis Blackmon (1-3) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Diaz and make it 5-3.

Loose Gravel: Aaron Williams (1-2) picked his first win of the season for Joliet. He pitched one and two-thirds innings and allowed no hits whiles striking out three.

The JackHammers and Goldeyes wrap up their three-game series on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. The JackHammers will send right-handed pitcher Nate Sevier (5-1, 3.71) to the mound against RHP Ben Moore (3-2, 6.17). The JackHammers will host a CAT Hydraulics Baseball Giveaway to the first 1,000 fans 17 and under.

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.

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