The New Jersey Jackals used good starting pitching performances from Ricky Knapp and Ronald Herrera to sweep a doubleheader from the New York Boulders by scores of 8-1 and 4-2 on Friday night at Palisades Credit Union Park.

Orsen Josephina was on the bump for the Boulders in Game 1 and got off to a hot start, retiring each of the first seven batters that he faced. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep the momentum going as it all unraveled in the top of third. The Jackals used five consecutive singles to plate three runs, and a sacrifice fly by Jason Agresti put the finishing touch on the four-run inning.

The Boulders were able to push across a run in their turn in the third. An RBI single by Ryan Ramiz plated Jack Sundberg who had just stolen his league-leading 33rd base of the season. However, the bats went quiet for much of the game as they left eight runners on base and failed to score again.

Knapp pitched very well in his second appearance of the season. A former Triple-A farmhand of the New York Mets, Knapp twirled six innings of one-run ball, allowing eight hits, and striking out six to earn his second win. Todd Isaacs, Santiago Chirino, and Dalton Combs each tallied multiple RBIs for the Jackals.

The second game was more of the same for both teams. Herrera, a former New York Yankee, toed the rubber for the Jackals, allowing a hit and three walks in three scoreless innings of work. Jared Milch and Reece Karalus each completed two scoreless innings to preserve the shutout.

Josh Rehwaldt, Stanley Espinal, and Isaacs all had extra-base hits, with Isaac’s two-run triple being the defining knock. Chirino tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly, his fourth RBI on the day.

The Phils, Caulfield and Capra, tried to mount a rally for the Boulders in their final turn at-bat. Caulfield ripped a one-out single, his third on the day, and scored on a two-run shot by Capra, his sixth of the season. Sadly, the rally came up a bit short.

The Boulders will look to put these games behind them as they continue their series against the Jackals at home tomorrow night