Despite heads up base running and seven strikeouts from senior starter
Miles Okamoto, Jesuit Dallas fell victim to a pair of Coppell home runs in a 5-2, University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A setback on Friday night at Coppell High School.
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Sophomore
Garrett Reuben and senior
John Guzman scored runs for the Rangers (10-10, 0-2 UIL 9-6A), while junior
Maccoy Lopez and senior
Mark Ready posted hits. Okamoto finished a five-inning outing with four earned runs on six hits, seven strikeouts and three walks. Jesuit forced five walks, but left seven runners on base, limited offensively by Coppell pitcher Trey Becerra, who struck out nine batters.
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The Cowboys struck first in the bottom of the first, turning a game-opening walk into a run after two deep fly balls plated leadoff hitter Chris Masters. In the second, senior
Jake Ryan provided a defensive spark, catching Coppell's Austin Gross stealing after Okamoto's first strikeout of the evening.
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Reuben crushed a 1-2 pitch to right center to lead off the third inning, a ball that glanced off the glove of a Coppell defender to place the sophomore at third. A wild pitch scored Reuben, and Kamalipour was hit by a full-count, bases loaded pitch to plate
John Guzman, giving Jesuit its first lead of the game.
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Coppell scored a pair of runs on two hits, including a lead-off home run, to tie the contest once again in the third. Okamoto logged key strikeouts with runners in scoring position during the third and fourth to keep Jesuit within striking distance heading into the fifth, but the Cowboy pitching kept Jesuit scoreless, while another home run spotted Coppell a 5-2, fifth-inning lead.
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Senior Heath VanKirk entered the contest in the sixth, retiring the Cowboys in order to bring up the top of the order in the seventh.
John Guzman walked to lead off the frame, but Coppell's Rye Gunter shut the door, completing a two-inning save to clinch the win.
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Jesuit will aim to rebound on Tuesday, when the Rangers travel to Richardson High School for a 7:30 p.m. first pitch against the Eagles.