Jacks Walk off with Extra-Inning Victory

June 27, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


An unseasonably cool and comfortable night gave way to a heated battle on the field Thursday night, when the East Texas Pump Jacks defeated the Brazos Valley Bombers 7-6 in ten innings.

The Pump Jacks rallied for two runs in the bottom of the tenth inning, with Connor Hornsby plating Raymond Pedrina with the bases loaded for the walk-off victory.

It was the second extra-inning, walk-off win in three meetings with the defending champions. In fact, East Texas has already won five games in extra frames this season, tops in the TCL.

The evening didn't look so promising when it began. The threat of thunderstorms scared off some fans, even though it was sunny and no hotter than 80 degrees at game time. The Bombers then got on the board first when they manufactured a run in the second inning with a base hit, a stolen base, and an RBI single.

The Pump Jacks answered quickly in the bottom of the inning. Nick Rabat hit a one-out double down the left field line, then scored when Joe Moroney's grounder was mishandled by the second baseman.

Brazos Valley took advantage when Jeremy Hallonquist struggled to find the strike zone in the third frame. Five walks and an error allowed the Bombers to take a 4-1 lead before John Jaeger stranded the bases loaded to end the inning.

The Jacks cut the lead to 4-2 on an Andrew Grifol sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third. Anthony Gonsolin led off with a walk and took second base on a passed ball before Dustin Williams walked. With Connor Huesers at the plate, an error by the pitcher loaded the bases for Grifol, who lofted a fly ball to left that scored Gonsolin.

The Bombers regained a three-run lead by virtue of a hit, a walk, and an error in the fifth inning.

The Pump Jacks rallied back for two runs in the sixth inning. Rabat and Moroney picked up two-out singles, then the pair advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Matthew Dickey lined a base hit that scored the pair and cut the lead to 5-4.

East Texas completed the comeback and tied the game in the home half of the seventh. Gonsolin walked but was erased on a Williams fielder's choice. Williams moved up to second and then third on successive passed balls, then scampered home on a sacrifice fly by Huesers.

Neither team could score in the eighth or ninth innings, even though the Jacks led off the ninth with a pair of singles. Brazos Valley wasted no time in the tenth, though, manufacturing a run to take a 6-5 lead.

With tensions high and the energy pulsing through the crowd in the bottom of the tenth, the Pump Jacks pieced together yet another dramatic comeback. James Lear was hit by a pitch to lead off, followed by a Pedrina single. Rabat's bunt down the third base line was mishandled by the pitcher for an error, loading the bases with no outs.

Moroney worked a four-pitch walk that forced in Lear to tie the game at 6-6. One out later, Hornsby dropped a humpback liner into center. Pedrina upended Bombers catcher Robie Rojas in a play at the plate for the game-winning run.

Dickey picked up two hits and two RBI on the night, Rabat had two hits and scored two runs, and Hornsby added a pair of hits as well.

Gonsolin picked up the win in relief, his second extra-inning victory of the season. It was Jaeger who kept the Jacks in the game, though, allowing one run on four hits in 5.1 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

The two teams will revisit their rivalry Friday at Driller Park for Fireworks Friday, presented by Swepco and CBS 19. The Jacks will light up the night sky with their second postgame fireworks show of the summer, and their last pyrotechnic display before Independence Day. The brand-new soundtrack will honor a pair of screen legends, so it's a show you won't want to miss!

After a weekend series at Brazos Valley and Monday off, the Pump Jacks will return to East Texas next Tuesday and Wednesday against the Texas Marshals. The Jacks will kick off National Hot Dog Month with a pair of Dollar Dog Nights. Regular hot dogs will be just a buck all night long, both Tuesday and Wednesday. The Jacks will even hold a hot dog eating contest on Wednesday, so contact the Jacks front office if you're interested in competing!



Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 27, 2014


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