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Jacks Rally for 5-2 Win in 13 Innings

July 15, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks captured a dramatic extra-inning victory over the Cane Cutters, led by huge pitching performances from Joe Bernhard and Alex Lott, and some clutch late-game hitting.

If a baseball game can be like a roller coaster, the first eight innings were the steady climb to the top of the ride. The next five innings, though, had enough twists and turns to tie your stomach in knots.

The East Texas Pump Jacks survived the roller coaster, defeating the Acadiana Cane Cutters 5-2 in 13 innings on Tuesday night.

The Pump Jacks took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth with their closer on the mound, but after some tough luck, it took a game-saving play at the plate to survive a Cane Cutters rally that sent the game into extra innings. Acadiana loaded the bases with no outs in the tenth frame, but again the Jacks escaped.

East Texas rallied for three runs in the 13th inning, and Alex Lott gutted out his fourth inning of work to earn the Pump Jacks what might have been their hardest-fought win of the season.

More than an hour after the Pump Jacks were one pitch away from ending the game in the ninth, Brandon Grudzielanek kick-started the 13th inning with a one-out double down the right field line. He moved to third base on a passed ball, then Niko Buentello walked. Dilon Argo's sacrifice fly scored Grudzielanek to give the Pump Jacks a 3-2 lead.

Not content with a one-run margin, Dylan Mecham followed with a double to put runners at second and third with two away. Jake Nash's grounder to third should have ended the inning, but a low throw got away from first baseman James Ziegler, allowing Buentello and Mecham to score for a 5-2 Pump Jacks advantage.

That was enough for Lott, who delivered four shutout innings for his longest outing of the season. It wasn't without drama, though. In the home half of the 13th, Acadiana opened with a single and Lott hit the next batter. A grounder and a fly ball notched two outs, then Lott punctuated the evening with a game-ending strikeout to complete the win.

That wasn't Lott's only challenge, nor his biggest. When he entered the game to start the tenth inning, the towering righty walked the leadoff hitter and allowed a single to put runners on the corners. Head coach Sam Bjorling played the percentages and intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases with no outs.

Lott responded by striking out Daniel Keating to pick up the first out of the inning. He then coaxed a tailor-made grounder to Anthony Donovan at shortstop, who stepped on second and threw to first for the double play, ending the threat.

Lott set down the next six batters he faced in the 11th and 12th innings, five of them by strikeout. He finished with two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in four innings.

All of this drama occurred after the Cane Cutters turned the game upside down in the bottom of the ninth, nearly walking off with the victory. Closer Tyler Adams came in with East Texas ahead 2-0 after Joe Bernhard pitched eight scoreless innings. Adams quickly registered a pair of strikeouts before his outing went sideways.

A pair of tough-luck infield singles put the tying run on base, and an RBI single by Adam Yacek made the score 2-1 with runners at the corners. A full-count walk loaded the bases, so the Cane Cutters put in pinch-runner Leiff Clarkson at second, where he represented the potential winning run.

Alex Tucker poked a single to right, letting Ziegler trot home to tie the game. Clarkson rounded third as Argo gunned the ball home, and catcher Tyler Moore slapped the tag for the third out in a bang-bang play at the plate. Acadiana head coach Lonny Landry argued the call but to no avail, and the game headed to extra innings.

The late-game heroics overshadowed a tremendous effort from Bernhard, who delivered his longest outing of the season in a spot start. Making just his second start of the summer, Bernhard allowed just three hits and struck out three, in one stretch retiring 16 of 17 batters he faced.

Bernhard held down his half of a pitcher's duel that was scoreless until the Jacks posted two runs in the eighth inning. Donovan earned a one-out walk then stole second, and Weston Pitts walked. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, pinch-hitter Nick Roark singled home Donovan to give the Pump Jacks a 1-0 lead. T.J. Friedl followed with a base hit of his own that scored Pitts and put East Texas up 2-0.

The Chandler-Gilbert tandem of Meacham and Donovan each had two hits and scored a run on the night, and Donovan added three steals. Buentello also reached base twice, with a single and a walk.

The Jacks close out the two-game series in Acadiana Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00.

The Pump Jacks return home Thursday to kick off a pair of games against the Victoria Generals.

Thursday will be the Pump Jacks' second Thirsty Thursday of the season, presented by the original lite beer, Miller Lite. Fans can beat the heat with discounted beer and soft drinks, and all adults will receive a Pump Jacks koozie presented by Miller Lite. Miller Lite will also be on hand to pass out other great prizes, so keep cool with the Jacks on Thursday!

Friday will be Big Screen TV Giveaway Night presented by Don's TV & Appliance. Don's and Jacks will be giving away a 55" HD Smart TV from LG, so come out to the ballpark and you may go home with a brand new TV!

Fans can also 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.



Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 15, 2015


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