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Jacks Rout Strykers 6-1, Win Third Straight

June 15, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks made light work of the Strykers behind a big night from John Caskey and a 12-hit attack led by Dylan Mecham.

Not even Mother Nature could halt the Pump Jacks this weekend.

After a pregame downpour delayed the start of the Sunday's game by nearly an hour, the East Texas Pump Jacks completed the two-game sweep of the Woodlands Strykers on the strength of solid start from John Caskey and a first-inning outburst that put the Jacks ahead for good.

Caskey established his pace early, retiring the first nine batters he faced in the ballgame. In all, 17 of the first 19 Strykers that came to the plate were set down.

Meanwhile, the Pump Jacks gave Caskey all the support he needed with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Dilon Argo sent Jacob Howell's first bitch of the contest into the gap and slid into third for a leadoff triple. But Argo fell victim to an age-old gimmick, though, as third baseman Rainer Ausmus tagged him out with the old "hidden ball" trick.

Despite the trickery, Nick Roark started the rally anew with an eight-pitch walk. T.J. Friedl put runners on the corners with a single, and Roark scampered home on a passed ball to Tristan Clarke.

After a Clarke walk, designated hitter Tyler Moore scorched a double down the third-base line to score both Friedl and Clarke, giving East Texas a 3-0 lead.

The Strykers' first base runner came on a single from the leadoff hitter in the top of the fourth, but Caskey calmly retired the next three batters on 15 pitches. The leadoff hitter in the top of the fifth again reached on a single, but Caskey coaxed a double play to wipe the bases clean and got another ground ball to end the inning.

The Pump Jacks scored another run in the sixth when newcomer Brandon Grudzielanek worked his third walk of the game with two outs. The home plate umpire granted Argo first base on a catchers interference call, and Roarke brought Grudzielanek home with hit first hit and RBI of the summer.

Caskey was tested in the seventh inning when he allowed the first two batters to reach on a single and a walk. With two on and nobody out, Jerry Murillo, the Strykers' home run leader, dug into the box.

On the second pitch of the at bat, Murillo hit a harmless pop fly to second base. Caskey's shutout bid ended with two more consecutive singles, the latter scoring The Woodlands' lone run of the game.

Ernie May went to his bullpen with one out and the bases loaded, and called on Jimmy Johnson to end the threat. He did so with no sweat, forcing an infield fly and earning a strikeout to strand all three runners.

The Strykers mustered just five hits off of Caskey in 6.1 innings. He struck out four and walked only one. Johnson earned the save with 2.2 scoreless innings with only one hit.

The Jacks answered the Strykers' scratch run in the seventh with another two in the bottom of the frame. Clarke led off with a double and took third base on a wild pitch to Moore, then Moore walked and Hunter Owens took over for him on the bases. One out later, after the Strykers went to the bullpen, Chad McKinney singled home Clarke. Dylan Mecham followed with a first-pitch single that plated Owens and extended the lead to 6-1.

In all, the Pump Jacks had 12 hits, led by Mecham's 3-for-4 night. Roark, Friedl, and Clarke each had two hits in the heart of the order. Grudzielanek reached base three times when he walked in his first three TCL plate appearances.

East Texas will enjoy a day off Monday before a busy week of eight games in six days. The Pump Jacks head to Plano Tuesday to take on the Texas Marshals to make up an earlier rainout, then return to the Marshals for a doubleheader Wednesday.

The Jacks return home Thursday and Friday for a two-game series against the Victoria Generals. These will be the last two home games before Father's Day, so come celebrate dad with a visit to Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark!

The Pump Jacks close out the week with three games in two days at The Woodlands against the Strykers.

As always, fans can tune in to our live Ustream broadcast, or follow the game with live scoring updates on our Pointstreak feed

To follow all the news during the Jacks' inaugural season in Tyler, visit the Pump Jacks official web site at www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. Join the conversation with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Pump Jacks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 15, 2015


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