Danton, Fikes halt Strykers' skid

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – A four-run second inning was all Woodlands Strykers starter Matt Danton needed to record his second win (2-1) of the year. Danton, a graduate of Willis High School, went eight innings allowing just five hits, a walk, and one run, while striking out seven in a 6-2 win on Wednesday over the Acadiana Cane Cutters at Strykers Stadium.

Conner Fikes (3-4, 2 RBI, R) delivered a two-run single to highlight the second-inning rally and give the Strykers a split of their two-game series while snapping a five-game skid.

Zach Davis produced the first run of the inning with a single, scoring Taylor Taska. He and Robert Heep (2-3) scored on Fikes’ key hit. Daniel Homann, before the inning was over, also crossed the plate for the Strykers.

Gabby Stubblefield closed it out in the ninth inning, striking out the side after hitting the first two batters he faced and yielding a run without giving up a hit.

Brian Smith and Dirk Masters each added a hit and an RBI for the Strykers, now 8-16 for the season.

The Strykers hit the road for games on Thursday and Friday at Driller Park in Kilgore against the East Texas Pump Jacks before returning home for Saturday and Sunday games with the league-leading Brazos Valley Bombers. Both of those games start at 7:05 p.m. at Strykers Stadium on the campus of The Woodlands Christian Academy.