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Pump Jacks Outduel Strykers

July 17, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Wednesday night began with corn dogs and Jackie Moon wigs. The evening ended with a more for the East Texas Pump Jacks to celebrate than just Will Ferrell's 47th birthday.

The Pump Jacks shut out the visiting Woodlands Strykers by a score of 2-0, securing a series sweep and inching back in to the playoff picture.

One night after the Jacks pounded out 13 hits and earned 13 walks en route to a football-like score of 14-3, the two teams combined for only ten hits, six of them by the Pump Jacks.

The series was decidedly one-sided, with East Texas outscoring The Woodlands 16-3. The Strykers managed only 11 hits in the two games, while the Jacks racked up 19 hits and 13 walks.

Wednesday was all about pitching, though, led by Pump Jacks starter Darren Lauer. The Keystone College right-hander allowed just three hits and three walks in six shutout innings for his second win of the season. After working out of a jam in the first inning, Lauer stifled the Strykers' offense by retiring the next 11 hitters.

The Woodlands threatened in the first inning, putting two runners on with two outs. Lance Miles singled to center and Kevin Santana, who had been on second, rounded third base and headed for home. Pump Jacks center fielder Connor Huesers hit cutoff man Dustin Williams, and Williams delivered a striker to catcher Nick Rabat. Rabat applied the tag to Santana to end the threat and the inning.

East Texas got on the board in the third inning, manufacturing a run with three singles. Joe Moroney got things going with a one-out base hit, and Huesers followed with a safety of his own to put runners at first and second. One out later, Williams lined a single up the middle to plate Moroney for a 1-0 lead.

That was all the offense Jacks would need. Kyle Garvin came on for Lauer in the seventh and preserved the shutout with two scoreless innings. Robbie Petty earned his first save of the summer by striking out two of the three hitters he faced in the ninth.

The Pump Jacks added an insurance run in the eighth inning to put the game away. Peter Miller reached second on an error to lead off the frame. Williams hit behind the runner perfectly, grounding to first to advance Miller to third. Seeing a chance to double the lead, head coach John Foster sent the speedy Chris Osborne to pinch-run for Miller. Two pitches later, Woodlands pitcher Gandy Stubblefield uncorked a wild pitch and Osborne scampered home for a 2-0 lead.

Moroney and Williams led the Jacks offense with two hits apiece. Williams extended his team RBI lead by driving in his 15th run of the season.

East Texas travels to Acadiana Thursday for a two-game set against the Cane Cutters before returning home this weekend to take on the Victoria Generals. The weekend will kick off with Bark in the Park on Saturday, when fans are invited to bring their dogs to Driller Park. Sunday marks the return of Family Night presented by the Longview News-Journal.

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