FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
July 5, 2007 815-774-2881

JACKHAMMERS DESTROY CRACKER-CATS 16-4

JOLIET, IL-The Joliet JackHammers (20-25) used 16 runs and 20 hits to earn a 16-4 victory over the Edmonton Cracker-Cats (18-27) and snap a three-game losing streak before 2,582 fans at Silver Cross Field on Thursday night. The highlight of the evening was a six-run seventh inning where 12 batters came to the plate for Joliet.

The JackHammers scored three runs in the third inning against Edmonton starting pitcher Mike Johnson (0-3). Chris Brown (4-5) led off the inning with a single and went to second base on a single by Eric Scriven (4-5). Cory Harris (2-4) hit an RBI single to score Brown and give the JackHammers a 1-0 lead. Tim Hutting (2-5) followed with a sacrifice fly to score Scriven and give Joliet a 2-0 advantage. Juan Diaz (3-5) hammered with an RBI double to push across Harris and give the JackHammers a 3-0 lead.

The Cracker-Cats scored one run against Jackhammers starter Nate Sevier (7-1). Ryan Radmanovich (2-4) hit a solo home run to get the Cracker-Cats within two runs at 3-1.

Kevin Sullivan (2-4) hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to give the JackHammers a 4-1 lead. The JackHammers had a 6-1 lead thanks to a two-run home run by Diaz in the fifth inning.

Joliet pushed across two runs in the sixth inning to make it 8-1. Brown led off the inning with a double and scored on a single by Scriven. Harris followed with an RBI double to give the JackHammers a seven-run lead.

Joliet poured in seven runs over the final two innings to walk away with the win. Sevier pitched seven innings and allowed four runs on eight hits to pick up the victory. He walked one and struck out eight men.

Diaz and Brown led the way offensively for Joliet. Diaz, the JackHammers first baseman, went 3-5 with a double, home run, a single and five RBI. Brown finished 4-5 with three singles and a double.

Loose Gravel: The JackHammers tied their single-game highs for most runs and most runs scored in a single inning. The JackHammers scored 16 runs in a 16-4 win in Fargo-Moorhead on June 30. In that game, the JackHammers scored six runs in the third inning. Joliet tied both those feats on Thursday night.

Joliet and Edmonton play game three of their five-game series on Friday night. The Cracker-Cats will send right-handed pitcher Dorian Castro (3-2, 3.96) to the hill against JackHammers right-hander Matt Smith (1-4, 5.63). The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and pre-game coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 1340 WJOL and online at www.jackhammerbaseball.com.

Friday night the JackHammers will host Fireworks sponsored by Aramark and the Choppers and Hammers Night! If a JackHammers player hits for the cycle, one lucky fan will win a Chopper!

The JackHammers are currently home through Sunday, July 8^th! 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 Box Office at Silver Cross Field during normal business hours.

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