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Jacks' Offense Is Dynamite in 14-8 Win on Fireworks

August 3, 2013 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The fireworks were not the only things exploding on Friday night at Historic Driller. Pump Jacks offense recorded 14 hits, including a two-run home run from Mitch Meyer to score 14 runs and pick up the series sweep of the Woodlands Strykers.

The Pump Jacks offense picked where they left off, scoring 14 runs to defeat the Woodlands Stykers on an explosive Fireworks Friday 14-8. They outscored the Strykers 23-15 over the course of the two-game series to complete the sweep and help their cause for a potential playoff berth.

Matthew Dickey continued his hot streak, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Mark Mathias, Mitch Meyer, Beau Day, Ryan Hope, and Zac Mishler all contributed two hits to help combine for 14 total hits, following the 15-hit game the night prior.

The night started out with a bang, as the offense scored ten runs in the first four innings.

Dickey opened the game with a lead off single into center and wasted no time stealing second for his 33rd stolen base of the season to tie the Pump Jack single season stolen base record set in 2011 by Kirby Pellant. Connor Huesers walked, and Mark Mathias singled to score Dickey for the first run of the ball game.Meyer singled to plate Huesers, and Bret Bitow followed with a grounder to score Mathias and put the Jacks ahead 3-0.

The offense rolled on in the second, sending ten batters to the plate and tacking on four more runs. Ryan Hope ripped a single into left to kick off the inning, and Mishler knocked a single up the middle. Michael Hymes was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Dickey, who picked up the RBI with a grounder down the first baseline to score Hope. Huesers was hit by a pitch to load the bases yet again, and Mathias was also hit, this time resulting in a run to push the lead to 5-0.

Hymes scored the third run of the inning, motoring home on a pass ball, advancing all runners.With first base open, Meyer walked to load the bases for the third time in the inning. Beau Day picked up the final run of the inning with a softly hit single, making the score 7-0.

After retiring the first seven batters he faced, Jordan Johnson allowed his first base runners of the night with consecutive singles. A run came home on a fielders choice to put the Stykers on the board for the first time, 7-1.

The Jacks responded in the home half to get the run back. Mishler singled into shallow right, and Hymes followed with a walk. Dickey picked up his second hit of the night with a single through the hole in left to load the bases. Huesers flew out to left, and with Hymes dancing at third, the Stykers left fielder Brian Smith threw to home to avoid the run scoring. However, Smith's throw sailed wide of the plate and got passed the pitcher who was backing up the play, allowing Hymes to scurry home from third, 8-1.

The Jacks then added some insurance with two more runs in the fourth to blow the lead open. Bitow walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Day followed with a bloop single into right, dropping in front of right fielder who lost the ball in the lights. Hope singled to score Bitow, and Dickey chipped in another single, giving East Texas a 10-1.

The Strykers started to sneak back into the game, adding three runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh, ending Johnson's night with the Jacks still ahead 10-6.

The Jacks blew the lead back open in the bottom of the seventh with four more runs, including a two-run blast from Meyer. Dickey reached base safely yet again, this time with a walk, and Huesers lined out for the second out of the inning. Mathias kept the inning going with a double to deep left to score Dickey and put him on base for Meyer. On a 2-0 count, the Kansas State lefty got a hold of a fastball and launched it into another county for his fourth home run of the season.

Bitow kept the inning going with a single into the hole in left, and advanced a base on a wild pitch. Day popped a ball into shallow right that was dropped by the first baseman, allowing Bitow to motor home from second for a 14-6 East Texas lead. The Stykers did not go quietly in the ninth, adding two more runs thanks to a double by Kevin Santana and single from Dirk Masters. The Pump Jacks halted the attempted comeback with a great double play around the horn (5-4-3) to end the ballgame and secure the 14-8 victory.

Johnson picked up the win after pitching 6.1 innings allowing six runs, four earned, on five hits and three walks. Johnson also tied his season high nine strikeouts, including five in the first three innings. Jacob Kelzer relieved Johnson and finished the final 2.2 innings for the Jacks. The 6-foot-8 righty allowed two runs on four hits.

The homestand continues over the weekend as the Jacks welcome the Texas Marshals to Driller for a two-game set Saturday and Sunday.

The Pump Jacks will give fans a chance to take home game-worn memorabilia on Saturday with Shirt Off Our Back Night, presented by Republic Services. The players and coaches will be wearing special jerseys just for the evening, and every one of them can be won by fans. Some of the tops will be given away in a free raffle, and the remainder will be part of a silent auction to benefit charity. If you want to own a game-worn jersey from a potential future big leaguer, this is your chance to go home with a unique piece of Pump Jacks memorabilia.

The homestand concludes on Sunday with Sunday Fun Day, presented by theGOspot.com. Enjoy $2.50 chips and salsa or $2.50 frozen margaritas and Straw-ber-ritas for the weekend event. The Pump Jacks will even have face painting for the kids, exclusively on Sunday Fun Day presented by theGOspot.com.

Tickets for the weekend can be purchased online at pumpjacksbaseball.com; in person at the Pump Jacks office at 106 North Kilgore Street, #201, in downtown Kilgore; by phone at (903) 218-4638; or at the ticket office at Driller Park the night of the game.

To get all the news on the Pump Jacks 2013 season, including game stories and promotional updates, 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 and Twitter.



Texas Collegiate League Stories from August 3, 2013


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