While the weekend forecast is gloomy this weekend for the Jackals, they anticipate to keep their spirits high as they look to carry over their energy from the competition against the Down East Bird Dawgs earlier this week into this home and home.
The Jackals look to change the narrative as they bring the Bird Dawgs back home to Paterson, New Jersey for their third series of the season. The at-home advantage theory does not prove to be true so far this season after losing their season-opening series at home against the three time defending champions, the Quebec Capitales. However, following what wasn’t the most promising opening series, the Jackals prevailed.
While the first game of the series down in Kinston, North Carolina was postponed and is rescheduled to be played as a double header in August, the Jackals won both games played against the Bird Dawgs in a “mini sweep.”
Wednesday, May 14
In their 8-3 victory on Wednesday, starter Sonny Fauci was dominant, pitching six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and allowing just one hit.
New Jersey was able to put themselves up on the board first, with Arbert Cipion crossing the plate in the second and fourth innings to build a 2-0 lead. Ryan Davis added another run in the sixth by stealing third and scoring on an error. The Jackals extended their lead to 5-0 in the seventh inning.
Down East tried to rally, scoring twice in the seventh and once in the eighth to cut the lead to 5-3, but Jackals closer Nicholas Trabacchi came in and shut them down, ending the eighth with a strikeout and striking out the side in the ninth.
Ryan Ford sealed the win with a three-run homer in the ninth.
Thursday, May 15
The Jackals beat Down East 14-9 in a high-scoring game.
Down East scored first with a two-run homer, but New Jersey responded with four runs in the second. The lead went back and forth until the Jackals pulled ahead with a three-run fourth and a five-run fifth.
Down East cut the lead to 13-9 in the sixth and had the bases loaded in the seventh, but the Jackals escaped the threat. New Jersey added one more run in the ninth, and Nicholas Trabacchi closed out the game for the win.
Frankie Guliano got the win while Andrew Baker took the loss.
Many talents were able to truly showcase their individual skill but also their teamwork in these last two games, which was a needed turn-around for the team. The Jackals head into this series tonight on a two-game heater – will they continue on with this momentum?
First pitch tonight is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. and all games can be watched on Hometeam Network (HTN).
