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Jacks Walk off with a Win in the Ninth, Split Doubleheader with Texas

June 12, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


East Texas Pump Jacks fans always have a reason to stick around for the last pitch.

The Pump Jacks pulled out a gutsy extra-inning win in the second game of their doubleheader to earn a split with the Texas Marshals.

The doubleheader meant that each game would be shortened to seven innings, but it seems the Pump Jacks just can't get enough of late-game drama. The Jacks tied the game in both the fifth and the eighth innings, ensuring extra baseball on a night the teams were already scheduled to play 14 innings.

After Dylan Porter and the Marshals blanked the Pump Jacks 2-0 in the opener, the nightcap appeared headed down the same path when the Marshals went up 2-0 in the fourth inning.

Marshals starting pitcher Tiger Smith took a no-hit bid in to the fourth, but with two outs Tristan Clarke drew a walk and Dilon Argo broke up the no-no. A Chad McKinney single scored Clarke and cut the lead in half, then a base hit by Dylan Mecham loaded the bases.

With a chance to put up a crooked number, head coach Ernie May called on T.J. Friedl to pinch hit for Nick Roark, who made his East Texas Debut in game one. Friedl got a hold of a ball up in the zone, but the lazy fly ball died in the East Texas night, taking the potential rally with it.

Pump Jacks starter Franklin Miller put the Marshals down in order in the fifth, and the Jacks tied the game with another run in the home half of the frame when Texas went to its bullpen.

James Lear led off the inning and smoked his second double of the day down the left field line, then took third on a wild pitch with Anthony Donovan at the plate. Donovan followed with his first clutch hit of the game, and a single that brought in Lear to tie the game.

Miller kept the Marshals at bay for the next two innings, giving the Jacks a chance to send everybody home happy.

In the seventh inning, Mecham led off with a single, but the Jacks were unable to take advantage of the leadoff baserunner, sending the game to extra innings.

Miller's night was done after giving up two runs on five hits in seven innings, and it was closer Tyler Adams who came out to pitch the eighth.

Adams hit a batter with his second pitch of the night, then erased the runner when he fielded a Zach Hardy sacrifice bunt and fired it to Donovan for the out. But Hardy stole second and scored on a two-out single, giving the Marshals a 3-2 lead.

This time, the Jacks had to score to stay alive.

In the home half of the eighth, Niko Buentello took a 3-2 pitch and sent it to the opposite-field gap for a leadoff double. Hunter Owens pinch-ran for Buentello and quickly took third on a Tyler Moore sacrifice. After Clarke went down swinging, Argo came to the plate. After going down in the count 0-2, Argo hit a bouncer to shortstop that looked to seal the Pump Jacks' fate. But Derek Ramos mishandled the routine grounder, allowing Owens to score the tying run.

Adams put the first two batters of the ninth down on ground balls, issued a walk, then registered a strikeout to set the stage for the dramatic ninth inning.

Texas sent Connor McMann out to pitch the ninth, and he put Mecham on first with a walk. Friedl laid down a perfect bunt to move Mecham over, and a wild pitch put Mecham on third base with one out.

Lear was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, then the speedster stole second to eliminate the chance of a double play. Donovan, who had the game-tying hit in the fifth inning, shot a single down the first-base line, allowing Mecham to score and set off the celebration.

The walk-off single was Donovan's second hit in three at-bats, and it brought in his second RBI of the day. Mecham also had himself a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Tanner Cable got the start in the opener, and gave up two runs in six innings while striking out seven for the hard-luck loss.

East Texas gets a day to relax on Friday, then the Jacks welcome the Woodlands Strykers to Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark for a two-game set Saturday and Sunday.

As always, 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.



Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 12, 2015


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