Strykers: Hadley throws gem at league leaders

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The Woodlands Strykers rallied from an early deficit and showed the league-leading East Texas Pump Jacks how it’s done in a 4-2 win Monday at Strykers Stadium on the campus of The Woodlands Christian Academy.

Derrick Hadley (3-4) threw the Strykers’ fourth complete game of the season, scattering seven hits and striking out eight in going the distance for the second time this season. He stayed out of trouble by not allowing a walk and shut out the league leaders over the final five innings, allowing just three hits.

East Texas (33-15) got the early edge with single markers in the second and fourth innings. But in what’s becoming a recurring theme, the Strykers rallied in the later innings to win for the sixth time in their last seven home games and eighth in their last 10.

Brian Brightwell, who was a perfect 4-for-4 on the night, delivered a bases-loaded single in the sixth inning that proved to be the margin of victory. Gabe Fyock and Garrett Lozano scored while an error on the play allowed Carter Burgess to also cross the plate with the game’s final run.

Brightwell scored the Strykers’ first run of the game an inning early when he opened with a single and advanced to third on an error. Adrian Lopez hit a ground ball that allowed Brightwell to come home.

Dan Perkins also added to the Strykers’ seven-hit attack with one of his own.

Hadley worked through the heat in an efficient manner. He threw 108 pitches, 84 for strikes. It was his biggest strikeout game since fanning 10 Alexandria Aces back on June 8.

The Strykers (16-29) host the Alexandria Aces in a doubleheader beginning at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday.