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Jacks Explode in the Fourth to Beat Strykers 10-7

August 5, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Once the Jacks took the lead, they never looked back.

The East Texas Pump Jacks and starting pitcher Mike Crimi survived some rough waters to start the ballgame, then the Pump Jacks' offense came to the rescue with an eight-run rally in the fourth inning.

The Woodlands appeared to be in control early after putting up back-to-back two-run innings in the second and third, but the tide began to turn in the bottom of the third frame.

Right fielder Aaron Clemons was plunked on the first pitch of the inning, moved to second on a Mason Mallard single, then came around to score when Weston Pitts shot a one-out single into right field.

The Jacks made it 4-2 when Tyler Moore singled home Mallard one out later.

The Strykers got a run back in the top of the fourth, but that didn't phase the Jacks. In fact, it may have energized the home team, which sent 14 men to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning, forced two Strykers pitching changes, and closed out the inning with a 10-5 lead.

Hunter Owens and Derek Clemons kicked it off with back-to-back walks, and an Aaron Clemons single scored Owens and put runners on second and third.

After Anthony Donovan drew a walk to load the bases, the Strykers gave starting pitcher Dillon Turney a rest in favor of Mason Mize.

Mize's first pitch hit Mallard to force the Jacks' fourth run across, and Weston "The Walk Man" Pitts drew a five-pitch walk that tied the score at 5-5.

Mize picked up a strikeout for the first out of the inning, but Moore reminded him of old times with another RBI single that scored Donovan and gave East Texas a 6-5 lead.

A wild pitch score Mallard and advanced Moore and Pitts to second and third. An RBI single by Colt Pickens made it 8-5, and the Strykers brought in Raul Baduel as Owens stepped in for his second at-bat of the inning.

Baduel set Owens down swinging, but an RBI single by Derek Clemons made the score 9-5. An error by the first baseman scored the final run of the inning, leaving the score 10-5.

The Woodlands answered back with a pair of runs off of Crimi in the fifth, but the East Texas bullpen took over with a 10-7 lead and held the Strykers scoreless over the final four innings.

Drew Robertson pitched two scoreless innings, and Jimmy Johnson struck out the side in the eighth to set the table for closer Tyler Adams.

Adams walked his first batter, but a seamless 4-6-3 double play wiped the bases clean. His eighth save of the summer was in the books after making Preston Marsh his 37th strikeout victim of the season.

Moore led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, and Pitts collected two RBI on a single and a bases-loaded walk. The balanced Pump Jacks attack saw every hitter reach base by a hit or a walk, and all but one Jacks batter scored a run.

The Jacks' final home series comes to a close on Wednesday, but a first-round playoff win on Saturday would ensure a TCL Championship Series in Tyler on Sunday.

To view and purchase photos from the game, visit the online gallery from FocusInOn.Me, a service of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and ETFinalScore.com.

Upcoming Games

The series and homestand come to a close on Wednesday, but the Pump Jacks and Raising Cane's are keeping the mood light with Pump Jacks Stress Ball Giveaway Night. The cushy balls with both the Jacks and Raising Cane's logos are perfect for testy two-strike situations and late-game drama, so come on out to Irwin Field and relieve some stress with the Pump Jacks and Raising Cane's.

The regular season ends when the Jacks visit the Brazos Valley Bombers for a pair of games Thursday and Friday.

Playoffs

The Pump Jacks open the postseason on Saturday, August 8, when they return to Bryan to take on the Bombers in a one-game playoff.

If the Jacks win Saturday, they'll advance to the TCL Championship Series for the third time in team history. The best-of-three final would begin with a home game at Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark on Sunday, August 9, then conclude with Games 2 and 3 on the road.

Fans who are unable to join in on the festivities 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, 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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