Six first inning runs provided senior Heath Vankirk an early cushion, helping spark the Rangers to their first University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A win, 11-0, over Richardson on Tuesday evening.
 
Vankirk threw a complete game, striking out four batters while shutting out the Eagles, allowing no runs on four hits while only walking two batters. The senior has won three of his first four decisions this season, and is currently second on the team with a 1.62 earned run average. Sophomore Jaden Woodson went 2-for-3 with three runs driven in and a double, while junior Bijan Kamalipour crossed the plate three times for the Rangers (11-10, 1-2 UIL 9-6A).
 
Sophomore Garrett Reuben and junior Maccoy Lopez scored two runs apiece, while seniors Will Guzman and Michael Schoettmer joined Reuben and Lopez in the hit column. Jesuit forced seven walks from the Eagles (6-9-1, 0-3 UIL 9-6A), who aided the Jesuit effort with four errors.
 
The Rangers batted around in the first inning, scoring two runs on a double to left by Woodson, adding two more runs on a Richardson error and plating their fifth run of the frame on a single to left by Will Guzman. Vankirk retired the Eagles in order to retire the Richardson first, and after a scoreless second Jesuit racked up three more runs on the board in the third. Junior Bijan Kamalipour reached on an error by the right fielder, scoring on a groundout by Ryan. Reuben came home on Richardson's third error of the game.
 
Reuben's fourth-inning sacrifice fly scored junior Maccoy Lopez to increase the lead to nine, but Richardson would break up Vankirk's no-hit bid in the bottom of the inning, knocking a pair of two out singles and loading the bases. However, the senior forced an inning-ending groundout to keep the shutout intact.
 
A run-scoring single by Woodson and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Caden Carlson gave Jesuit an 11-run lead, and Vankirk was able to close out the game in the seventh, assisted by a 9-6-5, game-ending double play logged by Reuben, senior Mark Ready and Woodson.
 
Jesuit and Richardson will close the season series on Friday, when the Eagles arrive at Wright Field for a 7:30 p.m. first pitch. Friday's bout will be broadcast live by JesuitRangers.org.