Jacks Take Early Lead, But Slip at Victoria, 8-3

Published on June 10, 2015 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks went up in the early innings and outhit the Generals, but a big inning led to their undoing.

The East Texas Pump Jacks Tuesday night followed the script of several of their early-season games: take an early lead, slip behind in the middle innings, then make a dramatic comeback late in the game. Unfortunately, the host Victoria Generals were aware of the tale and held off the late Pump Jacks charge, dispatching the Jacks 8-3.

Facing a 6-1 deficit in the final third of the ballgame, East Texas tallied single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to cut Victoria's lead to three. The Pump Jacks put the tying run on base in the top of the eighth when they loaded the bases, but they couldn't summon the big hit they needed.

After narrowing the gap to 6-3 in the eighth, the Jacks gave up two runs in the bottom of the frame that put the game away.

The Pump Jacks opened the scoring in the third on T.J. Friedl's two-out RBI single that scored Anthony Donovan. Donovan led off the frame with a single, then one out later took third on James Lear's single. After Lear was thrown out trying to take second on the play, Friedl's single registered the first run of the game.

East Texas starting pitcher, Enrique Perez, cruised through three scoreless innings, with the help of catcher Tyler Moore. Moore erased a Victoria baserunner trying to steal in the first inning, then he ended a potential rally in the third when he gunned down another runner at third.

Perez went into the start with a short leash after pitching three scoreless innings of relief in Sunday night's 14-inning contest with Brazos Valley, but head coach Ernie May liked what he saw from his freshman and sent him back out for the fourth inning. Perez allowed a two-out single and a Dakota Phillips homer to give the Generals their first lead of the game.

Mike Crimi relieved Perez for the fifth inning, but a four-run rally put Victoria ahead by a score of 6-1.

Alex Lott took over in the sixth and he was electric, striking out five of the first eight batters he faced. But after seeing the Jacks cut the lead to 6-3, Lott's control betrayed him in the eighth, allowing Victoria to extend their lead to 8-3.

Niko Buentello paced the offense by going 3-for-5 with a run scored, and Friedl went 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI. Lear also went 2-for-5 and scored a run and a stolen base.

The Pump Jacks and Generals will close out the series on Wednesday night. As always, fans can tune in to our live Ustream broadcast, or follow the game with live scoring updates on our Pointstreak feed

The Jacks return home Thursday for a doubleheader against the Texas Marshals, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. After a day off Friday, East Texas welcomes the Woodlands Strykers to Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark for a two-game set Saturday and Sunday.

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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Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 10, 2015


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