Pump Jacks on road at Brazos

Once again, the Pump Jacks fought back. But once again, it wasn't quite enough in the late innings.

The East Texas Pump Jacks travelled to Coppell Saturday to take on the Copperheads for the first time this season, falling to the defending TCL champs, 7-5.

The contest marked the third straight game in which the Pump Jacks fell behind early but came back to tie it up. Saturday, it took a four-run fifth inning, capped by two-run singles by Ryan Mooney and Blake Yazel, to come back from a 5-1 deficit.

Mooney's basesloaded, two-out single followed hits by Paige Hodges and Garret Smith, sandwiched around a Josh Riley walk. Hodges and Riley scored on the play. Both Smith and Mooney moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, and Yazel's single to center evened the score.

The Copperheads took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth. Three consecutive one-out singles plated the go-ahead run, and a bases-loaded walk added the insurance score.

The Pump Jacks jumped out of the gate and scored first in the game. Sparkplug Adam De La Garza was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, then proceeded to steal second and third. Two outs later, Riley drove a single to left that scored De La Garza and gave the Jacks a 1-0 lead.

The advantage proved short-lived, though. Coppell struck back with three in the first off of Pump Jacks starter Bryan Dixon, then added runs in the second and fourth to take a 5-1 lead.

Daniel Nottebart (0-1) relieved Dixon in the sixth and was charged with the two late Copperheads runs to take the loss. Khris Tate pitched the final two outs of the eighth, walking two and striking out two.

At the plate, East Texas posted a season-high 11 hits. De La Garza, Hodges, and Smith each rapped out two hits.

The Pump Jacks will be in Brazos Valley Tuesday and Wednesday for a two-game set against the Bombers.

The Jacks return to Driller Park on Thursday, June 19, to begin a home-and-home series against the Marshals. Thursday's 7:05 pm contest will be the first Thirsty Thursday of the season. Concessions will offer a deal on soft drinks, with regular size fountain drinks for 50 cents.

Following the Friday game in McKinney, East Texas welcomes the Copperheads to town on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22. Following a Monday off-day, the Bombers will visit on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24 and 25.

Tickets for the remainder of the Jacks' inaugural season schedule are on sale now. Fans may purchase tickets at the Pump Jacks office at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120, in Kilgore, or over the phone at (903) 218-GO ET. Tickets may also be purchased online - and printed at home on any home printer - by visiting www.pumpjacksbaseball.com.

Single-game tickets start at $5 each - or $4 for children and seniors - for grandstand general admission tickets. Upper Box seats are $8 each, and Lower Box seats, which feature in-your-seat wait service, are only $10 per ticket.