On a picture perfect Tuesday night for baseball, the North Jersey Eagles took down the Jersey Pilots 3-1 at Overpeck Park in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.

With the win, the Eagles (9-8) surpassed .500 for the first time since starting the season at 2-1 and set the tone for a five game, three day homestand that will see both Allentown and Trenton come to town for twin-bills.

After loading the bases in the first inning, the Eagles got on the board quickly with a two out, two-RBI single from first baseman Luis Amaro to score left fielder Ryan Rivera and right fielder Shane Woelful.

The Pilots cut the lead half in the top of the second, but the Eagles pitching staff did not allow any other Pilots to complete their flight around the bases. 

Eagles starter Daniel Rajkowski worked in and out of trouble all evening, throwing five innings and allowing one run, while surrendering eight hits. Mike Sweeney and Chris Baldi combined for the sixth and seventh before the ball was given to closer Jordan Fontenelle with two on and nobody out in the eighth.

After successfully maneuvering out of the eighth, Fontenelle loaded the bases with one out in the ninth to create a pressure-filled finish for all in attendance. The closer was up to the task though, striking out the final two hitters to earn his fourth save of the season.

The Eagles third run came in the fifth when Woelful scored on a wild pitch.

The Eagles, one and a half games behind the Staten Island Tide in the Kaiser Division, are back in action tonight, Wednesday night, with a doubleheader against the Allentown Railers. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 5p.m. All the action can be heard live on the North Jersey Eagles Radio Network at http://mixlr.com/northjerseyeagles/.  

By: Drew Casey