Danton throws complete game: Strykers win nightcap

When Willis High School graduate Matt Danton takes the mound, good things usually follow.

That was the case once again on Sunday night in Youngsville, La.. Danton threw his second complete game of the season, the only two by the Strykers this season, in a 4-1 win over the Acadiana Cane Cutters. It enabled the Strykers to split a doubleheader after a rain-out on Saturday forced the Sunday twin-bill.

Danton improved to 5-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.26. He struck out seven on Sunday to increase his total to 49 over 63 2/3 innings of work. Danton scattered five hits Sunday and did not walk a batter.

The Strykers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Dalton Perry led off with a single and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. He scored the game's first run when Kevin Santana sent a grounder to the Cane Cutters' shortstop.

The Strykers added three runs on five hits in the fifth inning.

Connor Kalisky and Kael Jones started things off with consecutive one-out singles. Jones was the starting pitcher in the first game of the doubleheader and was penciled into the nightcap as the Strykers' designated hitter.

Bobby Schuman followed with an RBI-single. A two-out single from Kevin Santana produced the second run of the inning and Dirk Masters followed with an RBI-double.

Santana (2-4, RBI), Masters (2-2, RBI, Run) and Daniel Homann (2-3, RBI) led the offense in the first game of the doubleheader for the Stryers, who outhit Acadiana, 8-5, but lost the game, 7-3.

Schuman (1-3, 2 Runs) and Perry (1-4) also added to the hit total.

Greg Jakusik provided a bright spot on the mound with an inning of no-hit relief, striking out one.

Coupled with East Texas' loss to Brazos Valley on Sunday, the Strykers lead the Pump Jacks by 1 1/2 games for the fourth and final playoff berth.

The Strykers continue their longest road trip of the season when they travel to Dallas to take on the Texas Marshals on Tuesday and Wednesday before completing the trip with games Thursday and Friday at the East Texas Pump Jacks.