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Jacks Score Early and Often to Sweep Marshals

July 4, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks poured it on for the second straight game, much to the chagrin of the Marshals.??The East Texas Pump Jacks blew the doors wide open in Friday night's 13-6 win over the Texas Marshals, scoring multiple runs in four separate innings.

The Pump Jacks scored three runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Starting pitcher Joe Bernhard benefited from the outburst, earning his first win as a Pump Jack in his first start of the season.

In the first, Dylan Mecham earned a one-out walk and Niko Buentello was hit by a pitch on the top of his helmet. Dilon Argo singled to load the bases for first basemen Alex Bell. Bell's sacrifice fly scored Mecham, and the two remaining runners moved into scoring position on a passed ball.

Joey Libby fought through his at-bat before striking out, but the ball squirted away from catcher Cord Perea. The passed ball allowed Libby to safely reach first while Buentello lumbered home. Another passed ball with Chad McKinney at the plate let Argo score to stake Bernhard with a 3-0 lead.

The Marshals picked up a run in the second inning on a leadoff solo home run, but Bernhard settled in to keep Texas scoreless in the third and fourth.

Meanwhile, the Jacks rallied once more in the third inning to extend the lead to 7-1.

Buentello was plunked for the second plate appearance in a row, and Argo doubled to put runners at second and third. Bell walked to load the bases, and a passed ball let all runners advance while Buentello crossed the plate.

With runners on second and third and only one out, Libby scorched a double that scored the Argo and Bell. McKinney followed with a single that brought Libby home for the fourth run of the inning.

East Texas added another run in the fourth when Mecham drew a one-out walk, took second base on an error by the catcher, and scored when Argo punched his third hit of the evening.

The Marshals made it 8-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Pump Jacks took them right back with a two-run rally in the sixth.

With one away in the sixth, T.J. Friedl drew a walk and Mecham was hit on the foot by a pitch to set the table for Buentello. The hulking first baseman gave the ball a ride to center field and narrowly missed his second home run of the summer, resulting in a loud out that let both runners advance into scoring position.

Hunter Owens got the call to pinch-hit in place of Argo, and the decision paid off when Owens smashed a two-out double that scored Friedl and Mecham for a 10-3 East Texas lead.

A double and a single plated a run for Texas in the bottom of the sixth, but Bernhard induced a double-play to close out his final inning of work.

With the game all but won at that point, the Jacks didn't take their foot off the gas. Libby and McKinney opened the seventh inning with back-to-back walks to kick off another rally. Two outs later, Friedl laced a two-run triple moving him into a tie for the league lead with three triples already this season.

Mecham capped the Pump Jacks scoring with an RBI single that plated Friedl for a 13-4 advantage.

Alex Lott came on in relief to work the final three innings of the game. The Marshals managed two unearned runs in the eighth, but Lott struck out seven to earn a three-inning save.

Bernhard earned the win with four runs on seven hits in six innings.

Argo led the offense with three hits in three at-bats, scoring twice and driving in a run. Owens went 2-for-2 after replacing Argo, and went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Friedl, Owens, and Libby each had two-RBI games. The Jacks earned nine walks on the night, with Mecham and Friedl getting two free passes apiece.

Now 2-0 to open the second half of the season, the Jacks look to continue their winning ways with a two-game visit to the Acadiana Cane Cutters on Saturday and Sunday.

The league breaks on Monday before convening in Victoria for the 2015 TCL All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 7.

Following All-Star Game, the Jacks return home Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10, for a two-game series against the Woodlands Strykers.

Thursday will be the Pump Jacks first Thirsty Thursday of the season, presented by the original lite beer, Miller Lite. All adults will receive a Pump Jacks koozies presented by Miller Lite, and soft drinks will be discounted to $2 each for the entire night. So beat the heat with the Pump Jacks and Miller Lite next Thursday for Thirsty Thursday!

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.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 4, 2015


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