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Pump Jacks Topped by Strykers

July 26, 2013 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The East Texas momentum was halted by the Woodlands Strykers as they rolled to a 15-5 win over the battling Pump Jacks. Matthew Dickey and Mitch Meyer helped lead the Jacks at the plate and on the basepaths.

After closing out the six-game homestand with three big wins, The East Texas Pump Jacks could not get the offense going on the road, falling to the Woodlands Strykers 15-5 Thursday night.

Mitch Meyer went 3-for-5, scoring a run and bring home two of the Jacks five runs. Matthew Dickey went 1-for-3 and continued to climb the leader board with his 23rd stolen base. The Pump Jacks defense had an off night, committing six errors allowing the Strykers to take advantage, and score 15 runs on 14 hits to pick up the win.

Nick Rossetta was tagged with the bad-luck loss pitching six innings allowing seven runs, only one earned, on seven hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.

The Woodlands took an early lead, plating a run in the first on a sacrifice fly, and then another in the third after a single, and error, and a balk put a runner on third with one out. Robert Heep picked up the RBI with the second single of the inning to score the runner from third and put the Strykers ahead 2-0.

The Pump Jack battled back to notch their first runs of the game to take the lead in the fifth. With two outs, Bret Bitow kept the inning going with a walk and swiped second. Mark Mathias knocked a single into right to plate Bitow and moved up a base on a single from Meyer. Both runners moved into scoring position on a balk, Mathias crossed home on a wild pitch, and Nate Esposito chipped in the third single of the inning to score Meyer and give the Jacks a 3-2 advantage.

The Jacks then suffered the first of two big run innings in the bottom of the fifth, allowing the Strykers to regain the lead. The inning was riddled with errors, resulting in all five unearned runs charged to Rossetta. After an error, and back-to-back walks, Rossetta found himself in hot water with the bases loaded and only one out. A wild pitch scored one to tie the game, and then a single from Ricky Sanchez drove home the go-ahead run. The Jacks managed to get a big out at home, catching the runner trying to advance for the second out of the inning.However the inning continued due to another Pump Jack miscue allowing a runner to score and leaving a man on first to set up for Dirk Masters. Masters adds to the damage with an opposite field two-run home run to give the Strykers a 7-3 lead.

The Jacks chipped away at the lead, plating two runs in the seventh to come within striking distance. Dickey opened the frame with a walk and picked up his 23rd stolen base on the season, moving him into a tie for first place in the league. Bitow followed with a walk and Mathias grounded a ball at Taylor Taska at third that bounced in and out of his glove, loading the bases for Meyer. Meyer picked up his 22nd and 23rd RBI with a seeing-eye single that bounced past the first baseman to close the gap 7-5.

Unfortunately, the Stykers blew the lead back open in the home half the inning with their second big run inning of the game. The Woodlands picked up six runs on four hits to pull away from the Pump Jacks. The final two runs of the game came in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out, two-run home run from Brian Smith. The bomb was the second of the night for the Strykers and pushed the final margin to 15-5.

The bullpen combination of Don Sullivan, Joshua Holley, and Evan Schreiber closed out the game for the Jacks. The Jacks look to rebound Friday night as they close out the two-game set with the Woodlands Strykers. The road trip continues as the Jacks visit the Brazos Valley Bombers for a five-day four-game series.

The Pump Jacks will return home for a four-game homestand beginning next Thursday, August 1. Thursday is Thirsty Thursday, when fans get to cool off with draft beers for just one dollar and regular soft drinks for only 50 cents.

August 2 is the fifth Fireworks Friday of the season, presented by CBS 19. The Pump Jacks will set the sky afire with a spectacular postgame fireworks display set to a unique soundtrack. Only two Fireworks Fridays remain this summer, so you don't want to miss this show!

The Pump Jacks will give fans a chance to take home game-worn memorabilia on August 3 with Shirt Off Our Back Night, presented by Republic Services. The players and coaches will be wearing special jerseys just for the evening, and every one of them can be won by fans. Some of the tops will be given away in a free raffle, and the remainder will be part of a silent auction to benefit charity. If you want to own a game-worn jersey from a potential future big leaguer, this is your chance to go home with a unique piece of Pump Jacks memorabilia.

The four-game homestand concludes on August 4 with Sunday Fun Day, presented by theGOspot.com. Enjoy $2.50 chips and salsa or $2.50 frozen margaritas and Straw-ber-ritas for the weekend event. The Pump Jacks will even have face painting for the kids, exclusively on Sunday Fun Day presented by theGOspot.com.

Tickets for next week can be purchased online at pumpjacksbaseball.com; in person at the Pump Jacks office at 106 North Kilgore Street, #201, in downtown Kilgore; by phone at (903) 218-4638; or at the ticket office at Driller Park the night of the game.

To get all the news on the Pump Jacks 2013 season, including game stories and promotional updates, 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 and Twitter.

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