Sports stats



Pump Jacks Secure Best Overall Record with Convincing Win

August 9, 2011 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Pump Jacks were quick to put Saturday night ‚¬â„¢s double-header sweep behind them.

Just ask the Brazos Valley Bombers.

Following two games where they managed just four hits in each contest, the Pump Jacks returned to their winning ways in convincing fashion on Monday at historic Driller Park. The Jacks combined for 14 hits and the pitching staff shutout the Bombers in a 9-0 kickoff to the final regular season homestand at historic Driller Park.

With the win, the Pump Jacks clinched the Texas Collegiate League overall-best record of 38-18 and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

In a game where every Pump Jack had at least one hit, several had multiple-hit games.

Seth Granger put the Jacks on the board in the first with an inside-the-park home run. Granger finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and 2 RBI on the home run. Jake Pinchback went 3-for-4 with a single, double and a triple. The University of Texas-Arlington sophomore also scored twice and knocked in a run.

Jace Statum went a season-best 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Tyler Girouard continued his hot streak going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Corey Falvey had an RBI single while Kirby Pellant singled and scored twice.

Stepping into the box with runners at first and second in the eighth inning, Hunter Dozier was the last batter in the Jacks lineup with a hit. It didn ‚¬â„¢t last long however as the Stephen F. Austin freshman smacked a single back through the box into center field for 2 RBI.

While the Pump Jacks bats were doing their job, the pitching staff was holding their own as well.

Donnie Hart picked up his third win of the season. The Texas State hurler tossed five shutout innings, allowing only three hits and striking out seven. Hart continues to lead the Pump Jacks starters with a 1.17 ERA in 30.2 innings pitched.

The bullpen picked up right where Hart left off with Brett Higginbotham tossing three innings of relief, striking out one and allowing only four hits. Jason Jester took the mound in the non-save situation in the ninth inning and struck out two of the three batters he faced.

Getting shutout in game two of Saturday ‚¬â„¢s twinbill against the Coppell Copperheads, the Pump Jacks wasted no time posting runs in Monday ‚¬â„¢s contest.

Pellant led off the game with a single. Two batters later, Granger crushed a ball off the right field wall and came all the way around to score on the Pump Jacks first inside-the-park home run. With two outs, Ty Marlow reached base on a bunt single followed by a single from Girouard. Marlow scored on an error from the Bombers catcher John Cannon and Girouard came in on a double to deep left-center from Pinchback, giving the Jacks a 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning.

The Bombers had their biggest threat in the fourth inning but Pellant shut down the bases-loaded threat with an excellent play ranging near third backhanding and firing the ball to second to end the inning. Brazos Valley also had runners on first and second with one out the in sixth but their efforts were squandered with a 4-3 double play from Marlow to Girouard.

Girouard drew a full-count one-out walk in the sixth, followed by a single from Pinchback. With runners at first and second, head coach Ben Taylor pushed the button for the hit-and-run and Falvey delivered perfectly, roping a single over the second baseman with the runners in motion, scoring Girouard easily and putting Pinchback at third. Statum then picked up his first RBI single of the night, scoring Pinchback and pushing the Jacks lead to six.

Pinchback then capped off his excellent night at the plate in the eighth, belting a ball to deep right-center for a leadoff stand-up triple. He scored two batters later on Statum ‚¬â„¢s second RBI single of the contest. Pellant walked and he and Statum advanced easily on a wild pitch. Dozier then got his first hit of the night in the form of a two RBI single on a hard hit groundball up the middle, giving the Jacks the 9-0 lead.

The Jacks welcome the Bombers back to historic Driller Park Tuesday night for the regular season finale.

Tuesday night is Family Night presented by the Longview News-Journal. Pump Jacks fans can bring the whole family out for a night of affordable entertainment and great baseball for only $10. Fans can also add four meals for an extra $15.

• Discuss this story on the Texas Collegiate League message board...

Texas Collegiate League Stories from August 9, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central