Generals shortstop Brandon Tierney went 4-for-5 on Monday night
On Sunday night, the East Texas Pump Jacks defeated the Brazos Valley Bombers 6-5 in Bryan to wrap up the first-half Texas Collegiate League championship and clinch the #1 overall seed in the TCL postseason in August. The Victoria Generals traveled to East Texas on Monday night and ruined the Pump Jacks homecoming celebration as they handed the Pump Jacks their first home loss of the season, and just their 5th loss overall, in an 9-3 victory.
The Generals offense jumped all over Pump Jacks starting pitcher Jacob Lindgren in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs on five hits. Andrew Stumph singled home Alex Klonowski to get the scoring started. After loading the bases, Brandon Tierney delivered a single to left-field to drive home Eric Weiss. Andrew Stumph came home on the play as the Pump Jacks left-fielder misplayed the ball, giving the Generals a 3-0 lead.
The Generals added five more runs in the top of the fourth inning to take an 8-0 lead. Weiss walked with the bases loaded to score Trent Wagner. Stumph then drilled a double into the right-centerfield gap for two RBIs scoring Klonowski and Jude Vidrine. Weiss then came around to score on a wild pitch before Trace Knoblauch grounded out to second base allowing Stumph to score.
The East Texas Pump Jacks, who are now ranked #7 in the country according to the Perfect Game CrossCheckers national ranking of summer collegiate league teams, were unable to solve Generals starting pitcher Dillon Newman. Newman, who was making his first start of the season for the Generals, pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out four.
Corey Holmes came on in relief in the sixth inning and allowed three runs on four hits in the frame, making the score 8-3. Holmes settled down after that and did not allow a run over the next two innings.
The Generals added an extra insurance run in the top of the ninth inning as Tierney scored on an RBI triple by Patrick Duncan to make the score 9-3.
Tanner Green came on in the ninth inning to shut the door without allowing a hit.
The Generals, now 17-9 on the season, received votes in the recent PGC national rankings as well, but sit just outside of the top 30. The Pump Jacks fell to 21-5.
The Generals return home to host the Alexandria Aces in a two-game series at Riverside Stadium starting on Tuesday night to wrap up the first-half of the season. Tomorrow night is Free Ticket Tuesday presented by Port Lavaca Auto Group at the Generals game. All fans will get into Tuesday night's game for free thanks to Port Lavaca Auto.
The Generals are currently a game and a half ahead of the Bombers for second place in the TCL standings. Whichever team finishes the first-half in second place will secure the #2 overall seed in the TCL postseason come August.
The Generals have two games remaining against the Aces in the first-half and the Bombers have three games left against the McKinney Marshals, including a double header in Dallas on Thursday night. The Bombers are currently 16-11 after beating the Marshals on Monday night.
The Generals game time on Wednesday night has been moved up an hour to a 6:00 start to allow fans time to get to the fireworks show at the Victoria Mall after the game. It will also be a Dollar Beer Night at Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night.
Box Score: http://tcl-generals.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=91288
Perfect Game National Rankings: http://www.perfectgame.org/SummerCollegiate/Rankings.aspx?R=12
