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Jacks Make Quick Work of Acadiana

June 24, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Three Pump Jacks hurlers combined to shut out the Cane Cutters 1-0 in a lightning-fast game at home on Tuesday night.

Tuesday evening's battle between the East Texas Pump Jacks and Acadiana Cane Cutters was so fast that if you blinked, you missed it.

The pitching performances turned in by both sides, the defensive gems, and several timely hits all came and went in the blink of an eye.

The result was a 1-0 Pump Jacks win in a game that barely lasted two hours, but never lacked for drama.

The only run of the night came off the bat of Niko Buentello, whose two-out single in the eighth inning brought home T.J. Friedl. Friedl reached when his one-out grounder bounced over the head of third baseman Taylor Braley. Braley was playing shallow at third to take away the bunt from Friedl, then watched helplessly as the ball bounded over his head.

Braley quickly redeemed himself, charging in on Brandon Grudzielanek's sacrifice bunt. It took a barehanded scoop and throw to nab Grudzielanek, but Friedl moved into scoring position for Buentello. The Pump Jacks first baseman lined a clutch single to center that scored Friedl for the winning margin.

East Texas held the Cane Cutters at bay with the combined efforts of pitchers Jace Vines, Enrique Perez, and Tyler Adams. Together the trio allowed just five hits and two walks while striking out five.

Vines got the start, his first as a Pump Jack, and went the first three innings. The All-American hurler and NJCAA Division III Pitcher of the Year allowed two hits and struck out three. He also showed his cool on the mound, striking out Conner Short with runners on second and third to end his outing.

Vines was closely watched by scouts from TCU, Oklahoma State, and Arkansas, and Texas A&M head coach Rob Childress even made the trip personally. The highly-touted freshman has been heavily courted since leading Tyler Junior College to a national championship this spring.

Vines gave way to Perez, who continued his dominant spring with five shutout innings. The freshman right-hander gave up just three hits and walked one while striking out two. He is now fifth in the TCL with a team-leading 1.13 ERA.

Perez got a little help from center fielder Dilon Argo in the sixth inning. Short led off by reaching base on a Grudzielanek error, then moved to second on a sacrifice. On a single to center, Short rounded third and headed for home, but Argo charged the ball and threw a direct strike to catcher Tyler Moore, who easily made the tag.

After the Pump Jacks took the lead in the eighth, it was time for Adams to pick up his fourth save of the season. Acadiana earned a one-out walk and inserted speedy pinch-runner Braedon Barret. But Moore took care of Barret, gunning him down at second on a stolen base attempt before Adams coaxed a popup to end the game.

Friedl and Buentello each picked up two hits to lead the Jacks offense, and Grudzielanek had a hit and a walk. In three games with East Texas, the nephew of former major leaguer Mark Grudzielanek has five walks and three hits in ten plate appearances for a whopping .800 on-base percentage.

The Cane Cutters return to Irwin Field Wednesday for the finale of the two-game set, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Pump Jacks head to Victoria Thursday and Friday before returning home for a weekend series against the Texas Marshals. Game time both Saturday and Sunday is 7:05, and gates will open at 6:00 p.m.

To follow all Pump Jacks games, home and away, fans 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, 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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