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Jacks Fall 3-2 in 11-Inning Thriller

July 19, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks took the lead with a run in the top of the 11th, only to see the Bombers snatch it back with a two-out rally.

That last out can be a doozy.

The East Texas Pump Jacks took the Brazos Valley Bombers all the way to their final out in the bottom of the 11th inning, and the two-time defending TCL champions found a way to win, 3-2.

It was a pitcher's duel early on, and the Pump Jacks got the first leg up with a run in the top of the third inning.

Tristan Clarke led off with a double to left field, and Anthony Donovan filled the empty space on first with a walk. Niko Buentello yanked a double to right field to score Clarke from second, but strong relay from the second basemen beat Donovan to the plate and the Pump Jacks ended the inning with a 1-0 lead.

Meanwhile, East Texas starting pitcher Franklin Miller had Brazos Valley in a bind. Miller allowed the Bombers only three hits over six innings, and despite knocking a double in the first and a triple in the third, Brazos was deprived of any runs.

After stifling the Bombers' offense for six innings, Miller's luck began to run out in the seventh inning. He issued consecutive walks to start the frame, so head coach Sam Bjorling called on right-hander Jimmie Johnson to take over. The first batter Johnson faced singled, loading the bases with no outs and giving Brazos Valley a chance to take over the game.

A walk forced home the tying run, and the Bombers still had the bases loaded. But Johnson got Jacob Chappell to line out to shortstop Dylan Mecham, who quickly tossed to second for the double play. He then coaxed a harmless popup to end the threat and keep the game tied 1-1.

On the other side of the coin, the Pump Jacks' offense was in a scoring drought of its own. East Texas had bases-loaded situations in both the fifth and eighth innings, but were unable to collect a timely hit. The same held true for Brazos Valley, which had the potential winning run on third base in the bottom of the ninth but couldn't bring it home.

Mike Crimi came on in relief to strike out the side in the bottom of the tenth, giving East Texas some momentum headed into the 11th inning. If the Jacks were going to score, though, they were going to have to do it against one of the TCL's most dominant relievers, C.J. Gregory.

The Jacks threatened quickly when Nick Roark drew a leadoff walk and Tyler Moore moved him to second on a sacrifice. Clarke followed Moore with an eight-pitch walk, and Brazos called on a fresh arm to replace Gregory.

Brandon Pennington subbed in, and T.J. Friedl greeted him with a first-pitch single to right that scored Roark for a 2-1 East Texas lead. The run was charged to Gregory, just the second run he has allowed all season--and both have been to the Pump Jacks.

With two runners on and only one out, Owens hit a deep fly ball that was run down in right field, and Clarke tagged up from second. However, when the relay entered the infield the Bombers stepped on second base. The umpire called Clarke out, ruling that he left the bag before the catch. The Pump Jacks were unable to extend their lead, so they headed to the bottom of the 11th with a 2-1 advantage.

Pump Jacks' prolific closer Tyler Adams took the hill for the bottom of the eleventh, and needed just five pitches to record the first two outs.

Geonte Jackson spoiled Adams' perfect frame with an infield single, and then put Adams on his heels when he advanced to second base on a throwing error.

A battle ensued between Adams and the next batter, Blake Kopetsky, and after working the count full, Kopetsky took a disputed pitch for ball four.

Jacob Chappell Chappell stepped in with the winning run standing at first base and drilled a double deep to the right-center field gap. Jackson easily scored, and Kopetsky raced home from first for the walk-off victory.

The Jacks outhit the Bombers 11-6, led by Buentello, who finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. Donovan went 2-for-4 with a walk, and Clarke finished 2-for-3 with a pair of free passes.

Upcoming Games

The Pump Jacks will wrap up the series with Brazos Valley on Sunday, and then they welcome the Bombers to Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday is Kids Night presented by Traditions Restaurant & Catering, when all children 12 and under get in the ballpark for half price. That means kids can come to the game for as little as $2.50, thanks to Traditions Restaurant & Catering!

Wednesday is College Night, when college students get $1 off tickets when they show their college ID. As an added bonus, students can get an extra $1 off if they're wearing any clothing or gear showing off their school. So bring your college ID, show off your school pride, and have a blast with the Jacks!

Following a trip to The Woodlands to take on the Strykers, the Pump Jacks return home over the weekend to face the Texas Marshals.

Saturday will be Seat Cushion Giveaway Night presented by Texas Spine & Joint Hospital and CBS 19. The Pump Jacks will be giving away free seat cushions with the team's logo to celebrate their first season in Tyler, so make sure you show up early to get one!

Sunday is Church Bulletin Night with the Pump Jacks. Bring a church bulletin to the game and you'll get $2 off your ticket for Sunday's contest. You can even bring a church bulletin to the ticket office during the week to get your discount, so don't delay and take advantage of this chance to enjoy a fun night at the ballpark for next to nothing!

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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