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With Lights On, Jacks Bats Explode

June 3, 2011 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The 2011 Pump Jacks season opener kicked off last night in Victoria and 23 hours later, it ended. Along the way, Pump Jacks fans learned that it is going to be a wild summer.

Trailing 4-1 to the Generals in a rematch of the 2010 TCL Championship, the Jacks were conducting a one-rally when a freak power outage at Riverside Park suspended play.

The Pump Jacks found themselves quickly tied in the 7th with runs by Brett Pirtle, Kirby Pellant and Lee Orr. Victoria, however, got the last laugh with a walk-off home-run by Daniel Garcia. Tyler Gianonnatti who had thrown four scoreless innings took the hard luck loss.

The Pump Jacks didn't take long to get their measure of revenge, scoring 16 runs in the nightcap, winning by a final of 16-7. The Jacks pounded out 16 hits and stole eight bases on their way to scoring in seven of nine innings to take control.

Leading the way was Ty Marlow, who had four hits and reached base five times. He stole three bases with four runs scored to lead the attack. Jake Pinchback, Colton Bickerstaff and Orr each had three hits of their own. Orr and Bickerstaff each drove in two and scored two. Pinchback drove in two and scored four of his own. Seth Granger added two hits with two RBI. Tyler Girouard drove in two as well.

Like the first game, the Pump Jacks jumped out to an early lead. The Jacks sent 10 batters to the plate in the first against former East Texas pitcher David Rollins. Three hits and four walks contributed to four runs, but the damage could have been much worse. Rollins escaped with the bases still loaded, giving the Jacks an early 4-0 lead.

Victoria cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first off of East Texas starter Daniel Minor. The Pump Jacks answered quickly with a Granger triple scoring Bickerstaff in the top of the second.

The Generals closed to within one when Freddy Villalobos hit his second home run of the game. And that was as close as Victoria would come. Pinchback extended the lead in the fourth and the Jack manufactured three more runs in the sixth to open up a 9-4 lead.

The Generals tried to fight back with a pair of runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh but the Pump Jacks answered right away with two in the seventh and two in the eighth.

With the game already out of reach, East Texas added three more in the ninth, highlighted by Pinchback's two-run triple.

James Hudelson, who came on in relief of Minor to start the fifth, picked up the win. Jason Jester tossed two and a third scoreless innings to close out the game.

The Pump Jacks continue their season-opening four-game road trip Friday and Saturday against the three-time TCL Champion Coppell Copperheads.

The Jacks open the 2011 home schedule June 6 and 7 when the Generals make a trip north to historic Driller Park. The team has extended a special invitation for fans to attend the home opener for free, too! Fans simply need to visit the team's official page on Facebook, "Like" the Pump Jacks, then send an e-mail with their name, address and telephone number to facebook@pumpjacksbaseball.com. Every fan is eligible to receive two free grandstand tickets.

The team returns home June 10 for the season's first Fireworks Friday presented by Patterson Kilgore and KLTV News. East Texas wraps up the two game series with the new Acadiana Cane Cutters on Saturday, June 11, with Everybody's Winning Night.

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