Pump Jacks Top Strykers, 4-3
June 14, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release
The East Texas Pump Jacks have gone streaking.
The Pump Jacks secured their second straight win on Saturday night as they beat the Woodlands Strykers by a score of 4-3. The Pump Jacks grabbed an early 4-0 lead, then stifled a late Strykers rally to hold on for the victory.
Bryce Howe picked up his first win of the summer after giving fans at Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark seven strong innings of work.
The Jacks struck first when designated hitter Tristan Clarke brought Joey Libby in to score with a two-out single in the bottom of the first inning. Libby slapped a single to the opposite field with one out, swiped second base, and hustled home from second on Clarke's base hit.
Tyler Moore led off the next inning with a ground ball up the middle, and Dylan Mecham put runners on the corners with a line-drive single to right field. One out later, Mecham stole second base to put himself in scoring position with two outs.
James Lear, who has hit safely in each of the Jacks' last two games, laced a single to center field to plate both runs. Irwin Field saw a bit of rain early Saturday afternoon, and the soggy outfield absorbed Lear's base hit, allowing Mecham to score from second uncontested.
East Texas continued the attack in the fourth when Hunter Owens worked a five-pitch walk with one down. Mecham, who game into the game with three hits in his last six at bats, collected his second hit of the game on a double in the gap.
Anthony Donovan, the hero from Thursday night's extra-inning walk-off win, came up big with an RBI single that brought in Owens with what ended up being the winning run.
Howe held The Woodlands scoreless through his first six innings, and although he allowed five hits and a walk in the span, the Strykers went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. He saw his first real trouble when the Strykers rallied in the seventh.
After retiring the first batter of the inning, Howe gave up two straight singles to the eighth and ninth hitters of the lineup. Garret Lozano hit a slow chopper to Donovan, and despite his full speed charge, turning a double play wasn't an option. Donovan made a heads up play nonetheless, flipping the ball to Nash at third for the second out of the inning.
After a passed ball allowed both runners to advance, a single into right-center field cut the Jacks' lead to 4-2.
With that, Howe's night was done, and Alex Lott came in from the bullpen. Lott surrendered an RBI triple to designated hitter Garrett Hope, but struck out the next batter to escape the jam.
Closer Tyler Adams mowed down six batters in the eighth and ninth innings to earn his second save of the summer. He struck out three and didn't allow a single batter to reach base.
Mecham finished the night 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. He has now collected six hits in his last eight at bats. Moore went 2-for-4 with a run scored as part of a balanced attack that saw every Pump Jack starter reach by a hit or a walk. Lear added two RBI from the leadoff spot.
The Pump Jacks will look to extend their streak to three games when they face the Strykers at home on Sunday.
After a Monday off-day, the Jacks go on the road Tuesday to Plano to face the Texas Marshals in a make-up from an earlier rainout. East Texas returns to Plano Wednesday for a doubleheader versus the Marshals.
The Pump Jacks return home Thursday and Friday to face the Victoria Generals at Irwin UT Tyler Ballpark. These will be the last two home games before Father's Day, so come celebrate dad with a night with the Pump Jacks!
As always, fans can tune in to our live Ustream broadcast, or follow the game with live scoring updates on our Pointstreak feed
To follow all the news during the Jacks' inaugural season in Tyler, visit the Pump Jacks official web site at www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. Join the conversation with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Pump Jacks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Texas Collegiate League Stories from June 14, 2015
- Late Inning Heroics Push Bombers over the Top - Brazos Valley Bombers
- Game Canceled - Acadiana Cane Cutters
- Pump Jacks Top Strykers, 4-3 - East Texas PumpJacks
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