Pump Jacks Drop Twinbill to Copperheads

Published on August 7, 2011 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Two nights after a convincing double-header sweep of the Acadiana Cane Cutters, the East Texas Pump Jacks found themselves on the wrong end of the same situation on Saturday night.

The Jacks dropped both seven inning contests of a twinbill against the Coppell Copperheads.

Strong starting pitching from the Copperheads and the Jacks failure to produce the big hit led to a 5-2 loss in the first game. Such was the case in game two as well with the Pump Jacks getting shutout for only the third time this season, 4-0.

Coppell starter Bryce Anderson held the Jacks to only four hits in game one, compared to 12 hits from the Copperheads. Jace Statum led the charge for the Jacks, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Nathan Pittman picked up an RBI single. Kirby Pellant reached on a perfectly-executed drag bunt to the Copperhead second baseman to round out the Jacks offensive attack.

Jaron Long picked up his second loss of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits in two innings. Andy Steinmetz took over in the third inning and took control on the hill. He struck out five in four innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits. In 18.1 innings on the season, Steinmetz has a 0.98 ERA.

The Copperheads struck first right out of the gate, scoring two runs on five hits in the top of the first inning. They added another run in the second on a Nick Smelser RBI single to hold a 3-0 lead over the Jacks.

Statum reached on a two-out single in the fifth and advanced to second on an error by Anderson. He scored on a RBI single from Pittman, giving the Jacks their first run of the contest and cutting the lead to 3-1.

The Copperheads added two more in the top of the seventh on a two RBI single from Sam Friend, giving Coppell a 5-1 lead with one half-inning left in game one.

Seth Granger walked and scored from first on a two-out single from Statum, but it was not enough as the Jacks dropped the game 5-2.

In the nightcap, Coppell starter Skye Severns quickly showed the Pump Jacks that he meant business, striking out the side in the bottom of the first. Severns tossed the complete seven-inning game shutout, striking out eight Jacks in the end and allowing only four hits.

Matt Munson took his first loss of the season in nine starts. He gave up four runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings on the mound.

Fellow USC hurler Jordan Hershiser took over in the sixth and tossed 1.1 innings of shutout ball, striking out two and allowing only one hit.

Beau Maggi, Corey Falvey and Ryan Moore each singled for the Jacks in game two.

Tyler Girouard singled and had his second outstanding defensive play in the two-game set. After completing an unassisted double play in game one, Girouard robbed Craig McConoughy of a hit in game two, making a leaping snag at first base.

The Jacks came closest to scoring in the bottom of the third inning. Falvey led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a bunt single from Moore, who advanced to second on heads-up baserunning, noticing that no one was covering second. Severns responded quickly, getting a pop out and striking out two straight to get out of the jam and end the Jacks threat.

The Jacks welcome a day off Sunday before hosting the Brazos Valley Bombers on Monday and Tuesday in the final regular-season homestand of the season.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from August 7, 2011


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