Girouard Gives Pump Jacks Sweep of Strykers

Published on June 11, 2012 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The East Texas Pump Jacks were undefeated on the season until Friday night, but they still have an unbeaten streak going- their streak of games won in a row at home.

Kyle Kubat pitched 5.2 strong innings, and on a day where pitching yet again dominated for both teams, the Pump Jacks came out on top, 2-1 over The Woodlands, to complete a two-game sweep.

Kubat was stellar on the mound for the Pump Jacks, as he bent but didn't break, allowing ten baserunners but only one unearned run over his outing. He gave up only four hits on the night, walking just one batter and striking out six for the Pump Jacks, who improved to 3-0 at Driller Park in 2012. The six strikeouts matched his total from his first start, and gave him the team lead with twelve on the season.

Alex Palsha was also very good on the mound opposing Kubat for the Woodlands, striking out seven while giving up three hits and three walks over six innings, but the Pump Jacks were able to get to him enough to pick up the victory.

A leadoff double by the red-hot Whitt Dorsey led off the fourth for East Texas. After Kevin O'Leary sacrificed him to third with a bunt, Tyler Girouard hit a high fly to left-center field to score Dorsey, who beat the throw easily for a 1-0 Pump Jacks lead.

The action slowed down until the sixth. After Kubat got the first two outs of the inning on just four pitches, a two-out rally scored the tying run for The Woodlands. Catcher Michael Molina lined a single to left, and after a critical passed ball moved him to second base, a throwing error allowed him to score and tie the game at 1-1.

As they have several times this season, however, the Pump Jacks didn't wait long at all to rebound. In the bottom of the same inning, Taylor Murphy hit a grounder to second base that went through the legs of Strykers second baseman Tim Redden, allowing Murphy to reach base. After a grounder to first recorded the first out of the inning and advanced Murphy to second base, another error by Redden on another routine ground ball allowed O'Leary to reach base.

Then, with runners on the corners and still one out, Girouard came through again with his second sac-fly of the game, scoring Murphy with the go-ahead (and eventual winning) run.

The East Texas bullpen, dominant in the early going this summer, shut down the Strykers the rest of the way. Cameron Gann (1-0) retired the only four batters he faced by throwing just six pitches. He gave way to Gerardo Easquivel, who overcame a questionable call at first on the first batter of the eighth to work a scoreless frame, assisted by catcher Nathan Zavos, who ended the frame by catching Ryan Farney leaning off of first base.

Jason Jester then came in and worked a drama-free ninth inning, striking out one to earn his second save of the season.

East Texas only mustered four hits on the game, but took advantage of defensive miscues in the field by the Strykers to earn the win. Dorsey led the offense in going 1-for-3 with a double, the only extra-base hit of the game for the Pump Jacks. Their record is now 6-1 on the season, just a half-game behind first place Brazos Valley for the lead in the Texas Collegiate League standings.

Gann got his first victory of the season for the Jacks, while Palsha took the loss for The Woodlands.

The Pump Jacks are off on Monday. On Tuesday night, the Pump Jacks will host the Victoria Generals at Driller Park for the first time this summer on Tuesday night. It will also be the first Family Night of the season, in which families of four can experience the excitement of Pump Jacks baseball from the grandstand at Driller Park for just $10. Familes can also add a meal of a hot dog, a bag of chips, and a drink for each family member to their tickets for just $15 more.

First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 11, 2012


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