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Pump Jacks Drop Nail-Biter to Bombers

August 3, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Despite a three-run homer from Dustin Williams, the Jacks weren't able to hold on against Brazos Valley.

The East Texas Pump Jacks had more hits than the visiting Brazos Valley Bombers Saturday night. The Pump Jacks had more extra-base hits, and they had more home runs, thanks to a three-run shot by Dustin Williams.

But it was the league-leading Bombers who finished on top where it counts, grabbing a 6-5 decision at Historic Driller Park.

Williams delivered his second home run of the season as part of a four-run third inning that gave the Jacks a 5-1 lead. Connor Hornsby, an inspirational leader who had just one extra-base hit all season, posted a double and a triple while going 2-for-4.

After both teams went 1-2-3 in the first inning, they each got on the board in the second. Brazos Valley drew first blood when a one-out double later scored on a comebacker to the mound.

In the home half of the frame, the Jacks had two quick outs before Hornsby recorded his second double of the season. Drew McLaughlin singled him to third, putting runners at the corners for Nick Rabat. Rabat went the other way perfectly, dropping a single to right that scored Hornsby to tie the game at 1-1.

East Texas jumped out in front an inning later, thanks in large part to Williams. Connor Huesers picked up a one-out walk, and Peter Miller followed with a double. Facing Tyler Nurdin, the Bombers pitcher and his Oklahoma State teammate, Williams crushed 2-2 offering over the fence in right-center field to give the Pump Jacks their first lead of the game.

The Pump Jacks weren't done in the inning. One out later, Hornsby picked up his first triple of the summer, and McLaughlin drove him in with an RBI double for a 5-1 lead.

Brazos Valley began to chip away the very next inning. A pair of walks and an RBI single in the fourth narrowed the margin to 5-2. Pump Jacks starting pitcher Jordon Gonzalez fought back to strand two Bombers and maintain the lead.

In the fifth, the Bombers put two runners on with a base hit and a hit batter before an RBI single made the score 5-3. Once again, Gonzalez bounced back to strand two baserunners.

Five innings was as far as Gonzalez would go. He left after allowing three run, all of them earned, on five hits while striking out three.

Jacob Byrd came on in the sixth and saw the Bombers load the bases with one out. Brazos Valley scored just once, on a sacrifice fly, closing the gap to 5-4.

Byrd gave way to Kyle Garvin, who was on the mound for the decisive eighth inning. Brazos Valley put two runners in scoring position with two outs when Horacio Correa III hit a long drive to Chris Osborne in right field. Osborne leapt and caught the ball before crashing into the outfield wall, causing the ball to bounce out. Both baserunners scored, giving the Bombers a 6-5 lead.

The Pump Jacks tried to fight back in the bottom of the eighth, but to no avail. McLaughlin picked up a two-out single and Rabat walked, but the next link in the chain eluded the home team.

In addition to Williams and Hornsby, McLaughlin led the Jacks at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Rabat walked, singled, and drove in a run.

The loss, combined with the Saturday victory by the Texas Marshals, leaves the Pump Jacks with a razor-thin half-game lead in the race for the fourth and final playoff spot.

The Bombers return to Driller Park on Sunday for Family Night, presented by the Longview News-Journal. Fans can pick up four Grandstand tickets for $10, and they can add four meals for just $15 more. It's the best entertainment deal in East Texas and the last Family Night of the summer, so don't miss out!



Texas Collegiate League Stories from August 3, 2014


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