Pump Jacks Rebound Against Cane Cutters

Published on June 14, 2012 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Following a pounding at the hands of the Victoria Generals on Wednesday night, the Pump Jacks were in need of a victory to ease their minds and get back on track. They got it, thanks to some familiar sources of production, in an 8-5 win against Acadiana in Lafayette, La.

Five Pump Jacks had multi-hit games at overcast Fabacher Field, led by Kirby Pellant's 3-for-4 night out of the leadoff spot for the Jacks along with a 2-for-5 performance with three RBI from Whitt Dorsey out of the cleanup spot.

After both teams had scattered runners on base in the first two innings, the Pump Jacks broke through in the third. Logan Davis opened things up by reaching on an error by the third baseman. Tyler Sullivan then took advantage of an infield that wasn't expecting him to lay down a bunt for a single, advancing Davis to second base. Pellant then hit another single, scoring Davis easily, and he advanced all the way to third base on another error by the third baseman. That second error plated Sullivan for a 2-0 East Texas lead.

After a strikeout, Dorsey grounded out to short to bring home Pellant, making the lead for the Pump Jacks 3-0. East Texas built the lead up to 4-0 the next inning, when Logan Preston reached on a hit-by-pitch to lead off the inning, followed by a walk drawn by Davis and a single by Sullivan. Pellant was pelted on a 3-1 pitch to force in the run for the Pump Jacks.

Acadiana got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, scoring one run to cut the deficit to three. After the Pump Jacks responded with a run of their own in the fifth, driven in on a clean single by Taylor Murphy, the Cane Cutters were able to load the bases with no one out in the bottom of the inning.

Then Braxton Lee lifted a fly ball into the outfield, which was not caught due to a collision between Sullivan and Dorsey. That plated two runs, and chased Pump Jacks starter Corey Ray from the game, making the score 5-3 in favor of the road team.

But as has been the norm this season, the bullpen got the Jacks out of the jam. Cameron Gann relieved Ray, and after a passed ball pulled the Cane Cutters within one run, Gann struck out three straight batters to get Ray off the hook.

In the sixth inning, East Texas added valuable insurance runs to their lead, as Pellant and Louie Helmburg were both driven in by Dorsey on a single to push the lead up to 7-4. The Pump Jacks added another run in the seventh, when Sullivan drove in Davis for an 8-4 margin.

The bullpen was again solid down the stretch for the Jacks. Gann was relieved by Jeff Stovall, who pitched two brilliant innings, striking out three batters. Gerardo Esquivel ran into a jam in the eighth, but Jason Jester induced a huge double play to end the frame. He then pitched the ninth to earn his league-leading fourth save of the season.

In addition to Pellant and Dorsey, Murphy, Davis and Sullivan each finished with multiple hits- two each for Murphy and Davis, and three for Sullivan.

With the win, the Pump Jacks move to 8-2 on the season, and earn their first win on the road since June 4 against Alexandria.

The Pump Jacks finish off their road trip with a rematch against the Cane Cutters on Friday night. East Texas' next home game is on Saturday, when they host the Cane Cutters at Driller Park.

First pitch of each game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Keep up with the Pump Jacks' fifth anniversary season on www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. Join the conversation and interact with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Jacks on Facebook and Twitter.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 14, 2012


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