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Jacks Threaten in Bottom of the Ninth But Fall Short, 3-1

July 1, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks fought back in the ninth to put the tying run in scoring position, but the big hit eluded them against the Cane Cutters.

There was plenty of drama packed into a game that barely played past two hours.

The East Texas Pump Jacks took a tough 3-1 loss at the hands of the Acadiana Cane Cutters on Tuesday night. Acadiana's victory clinched a playoff spot for the Cane Cutters and set the Pump Jacks' postseason sights on the second half.

The Pump Jacks needed a home sweep of Acadiana, plus a little help from elsewhere in the TCL, to clinch a playoff spot in the first half. The Jacks will now work on a postseason berth in the second half of the season, which kicks off on Thursday. All won-loss records reset to 0-0 for a new playoff race in the final 30 games of the season.

East Texas has never missed the TCL playoffs, reaching the postseason each of the last seven years. The Pump Jacks reached the TCL Championship Series in 2010 and 2012, and won the title three years ago.

Bryce Howe made his final start of the summer for the Pump Jacks, and dazzled despite being pinned with the loss. He kept the Cane Cutters scoreless for the first three innings, striking out five and allowing just one base hit over the stretch.

The lone hit came on a leadoff single by Zak Kutsulis to start the ballgame, but Howe snapped a pickoff throw to first and picked Kutsulis off before he threw another pitch.

Acadiana scored its only run against Howe in the top of the fourth inning when Daniel Keating crossed the plate. Keating led things off with a single, and stole his way to third base for one of the TCL's most dangerous hitters, James Ziegler.

With two outs and the score locked at 0-0, Acadiana put on a squeeze play and Keating took off from third as Ziegler laid a perfect bunt down the first base line.

Howe responded by setting the Cutters down in order in the sixth, and with that his night and summer in East Texas was through. He ended his outing with seven strikeouts and allowed just three hits and a walk.

Alex Lott Came in to pitch the seventh and walked Conner Short after retiring the leadoff batter. Short swiped second, moved to third on a groundout, and came around to score on a bloop single that fell out of reach of a diving Dilon Argo.

Meanwhile, Acadiana starter Scott Szush had the Jacks in a bind all game, and faced the minimum three batters in each of the game's first seven innings.

Brandon Grudzielanek led off the first inning with a walk, but he was wiped off the bases on a double play ball off the bat of T.J. Friedl. East Texas didn't have another baserunner until the fourth when Grudzielanek collected the first base hit of the night off Szush, but this time he was gunned down trying to steal second.

The Cutters tacked on their third run in the top of the eighth when Keating worked a leadoff walk, stole second and third on two pitches, and scampered home on a sacrifice fly.

The Jacks worked their way on base in the home half of the eighth, and this time it sparked a rally.

Nick Roark took first on a leadoff walk, and traded places with James Lear after Lear grounded into a fielder's choice. The Pump Jacks got their first run when Lear stole second and scored on a single by Argo.

Lott pitched a clean ninth inning, and East Texas went into the bottom half with an opportunity for another dramatic win.

Grudzielanek reached base for the third time in the game with a one-out single, and first basemen Niko Buentello put runners on second and third with a two-out, opposite-field double. Roark, who was 5-for-5 with a home run in Sunday night's battle with the Texas Marshals, came to the plate with a chance to tie the game with one swing of the bat.

The Cane Cutters moved third baseman Taylor Braley to the mound to record the final out, and he and Roark got into a battle. The Jacks' comeback bid came up short for the second straight game when Roark went down swinging on the seventh pitch of the at bat.

Grudzielanek finished the night 2-for-3 with a walk, and Argo and Buentello also added base hits.

The Jacks and the Cutters will finish the series and the first half of the season on Wednesday night at Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark. As always, game time in Tyler is 7:05, and gates will open at 6:00 p.m.

The Pump Jacks head on the road for a pair of games at the Texas Marshals Thursday and Friday, then spend the July 4th weekend visiting the Cane Cutters.

Following the 2015 TCL All-Star Game on July 7 in Victoria, the Jacks return home July 9 and 10 for a two-game series against the Woodlands Strykers.

Thursday will be the Pump Jacks first Thirsty Thursday of the season, presented by the original lite beer, Miller Lite. All adults will receive a Pump Jacks koozies presented by Miller Lite, and soft drinks will be discounted to $2 each for the entire night. So beat the heat with the Pump Jacks and Miller Lite next Thursday for Thirsty Thursday!

Fans can also 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, presented by Brookshire's, 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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