Pump Jacks Drop Squeaker to Acadiana

June 7, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way. That's just the way it was for the East Texas Pump Jacks this trip to Acadiana.

Fresh off a thrilling victory Wednesday night, the Pump Jacks headed to Louisiana to face the Cane Cutters for three games in two days. The home team was the victor in both ends of the doubleheader Thursday thanks to a pair of late rallies and fortunate bounces.

Looking to rebound Friday, the Pump Jacks suffered more of the same, watching a 4-1 early lead slip away into a 6-4 loss at the hands of the Cane Cutters.

Acadiana took advantage of a first-inning miscue when Kennon Menard struck out but reached base when the third strike squirted away from catcher Nick Rabat. Menard scored on a two-out single later in the frame, but starting pitcher Jeremy Hallonquist stranded a runner at third with his third strikeout of the inning.

The Pump Jacks evened the score in the third inning on an RBI single by Taylor Bailey scored Connor Hornsby. Hornsby led off with a single, and two outs later an Acadiana error on a Matthew Dickey grounder put runners at the corners for Bailey.

East Texas rallied for three runs in the fourth to take its first lead of the game. Chris Osborne walked, then Bobby Webb sacrificed him to second. Osborne stole third, his fifth steal of the season, and scored easily on the errant throw. Andrew Grifol walked and Anthony Gonsolin followed with a single, then the pair executed a double steal to put runners at second and third. Hornsby's RBI grounder scored Grifol, and Rabat's double plated Gonsolin for a 4-1 Pump Jacks lead.

Things got dicey in the fifth inning. A walk and a single spelled the end of the night for Hallonquist, who struck out five in four-plus innings but allowed three runs. A sacrifice fly and a single off of reliever Robbie Petty scored two and narrowed the margin to 4-3.

The Cane Cutters scored twice more in the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead, then tacked on an insurance run in the seventh for the final margin of victory.

Hornsby led the Jacks at the plate by going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Grifol walked and scored a run, and he has now earned a walk in every game this season. He leads the TCL with 13 walks and a .613 on-base percentage in seven games.

The Pump Jacks return to East Texas for a weekend series against the defending champion Brazos Valley Bombers. Saturday is Pump Jacks Koozie Giveaway Night presented by KLTV, when the first 500 fans will receive a free Jacks koozie! Sunday is Longview News-Journal Family Night, when a family of four can get tickets for just $10.



Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 7, 2014


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