Mike Sgaramella, Dan Rajkowski, Tom Saffioti, and Jordan Fontenelle combined to toss a two-hitter against the Jersey Pilots on Wednesday night, powering the North Jersey Eagles to a 3-1 win and their first victory of the season.

The Eagles’ hitters pounced early on Pilots starter Tommy Giunta, using a Shane Woelfel double and Ryan Rivera single as catalysts for a 3-run 2nd inning.

That offensive output proved to be plenty for the Eagles’ quartet of pitchers, who seemed to be one pitch ahead of the Pilots throughout the game.

Even when Sgaramella worked himself into a 2-on, 1-out jam in the bottom of the 2nd inning, he was able to neutralize the threat by inducing a double play to end a tough seven-pitch at-bat by Pilots first baseman Greg Kocinski.

That theme continued for much of the game’s remaining innings, as Dan Rajkowski relieved the sharp Sgaramella after three innings only to pitch three more innings of no-hit ball.

The Pilots were able to mount a threat in the 8th inning, however, by manufacturing two singles, a wild pitch, and smart baserunning into a run and the potential for more.

After breaking up the combined no-hitter with a one-out single off Eagles reliever Tom Saffioti, Kocinski advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a single by Pilots right fielder Ryan Jennings.

With runners on the corners and one out for shortstop Christian Zazzali, the Pilots tested their luck on Saffioti’s full-count offering by employing a delayed double-steal.

Although Zazzali struck out trying to protect the baserunners, Jennings safely stole second base. While those events transpired, Kocinski crept down the third-base line far enough to safely scamper home following catcher Frank Mayo’s throw to second.

From there, though, the Eagles slammed the door shut.

With a man still in scoring position, Saffioti recorded a strikeout of leadoff hitter Tommy Trotter to prevent further damage in the 8th inning.

In the bottom of the 9th, Jordan Fontenelle worked a masterful 14-pitch, 1-2-3 inning to nail down the first victory of the Eagles’ season, striking out the side while facing the heart of the Pilots’ lineup.

The Eagles will look to build off Wednesday’s victory during their upcoming homestand, in which the team will play its first five home games of the season.

The home opener of the Eagles’ 2015 campaign and first game of the homestand is Thursday, June 4 against the Staten Island Tide at Overpeck Park in Ridgefield Park, NJ. First pitch is at 7:00pm, and the pregame show with Eagles broadcasters Drew Casey and Dominick Savino will begin at 6:45pm on http://mixlr.com/northjerseyeagles/.

Written by: Dominick Savino