Hager Helps Pump Jacks Win Fifth Straight

Published on June 20, 2012 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Fresh off an initial Perfect Game ranking of #27 in the nation, the Pump Jacks got a strong outing from Mike Hager in winning their fifth straight game, 5-3 over the Texas Marshals.

The Pump Jacks got on the board first. In the second inning, Charlie Wagner was hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch moved Wagner up to second base. Logan Davis then grounded back to the Marshals' starter Travis Evans, who decided to try and nab Wagner trying to advance to third. His throw sailed down the line into left field, allowing Wagner to score and the hustling Davis to advance all the way to third. With the score already 1-0 Pump Jacks, Tyler Sullivan drove in Davis with an RBI single to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.

The Marshals were able to tie the game in the third inning when Chance Bolcerek drove in R.J. Talamantes with a fielder's choice, but East Texas responded quickly. In the top of the fourth, John Williams was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Whitt Dorsey then drove him in with an RBI single to give the Pump Jacks a 3-2 lead.

The Jacks extended their lead to 4-2 in the next inning with a two-out rally. Williams got it started with a single, and Dorsey followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Colton Bickerstaff drove the run in with an RBI single of his own on a full-count pitch.

In the seventh inning, the Pump Jacks made the score 5-2 when Sullivan and Williams led off the frame with singles. With runners on first and second and one out and Bickerstaff at the plate, an error on the pitcher moved Sullivan to third. The Pump Jacks then executed a well-timed play where although Williams was caught stealing second for the second out of the inning, Sullivan came home to score the final run of the game for the Pump Jacks.

Hager, meanwhile, was pitching well. At one point, he retired nine out of ten Marshals that came to the plate in the middle innings. The Marshals were able to get one more run off of him, but that was all, as Gerardo Esquivel came in and shut the door on a potential Texas rally in the seventh.

Esquivel also pitched the eighth inning, striking out one, to set things up for Jason Jester. As he has done all season long, Jester nailed down the save, his TCL-leading sixth of the season, in another Pump Jacks win. He also struck out one batter in another strong outing.

The top three batters in the lineup were great at the plate for East Texas, combining for all but three of the Jacks' 11 hits in the contest with three runs scored and two RBI. Sullivan finished 3-for-6 while Dorsey also had three hits for East Texas, which moved to 13-3 on the season.

Hager (2-1) got the win for the Jacks, while Evans took the loss for the Marshals.

The Pump Jacks return home on Thursday and Friday nights against the Victoria Generals. Fans can enjoy $1 beers and 50-cent soft drinks all night long on Thursday in the second Thirsty Thursday at Driller Park this season, and can watch the sky light up with fireworks after the game on Friday in the first Fireworks Friday of the season, sponsored by 1st Choice Personnel and CBS-19.

First pitch for all games is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 20, 2012


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