A trio of run-scoring singles and a six-strikeout outing from senior Heath Vankirk sparked Jesuit in a split-salvaging, 3-1 win against J.J. Pearce on Friday, April 7 at Pearce High School.
 
The Rangers (15-11, 5-3 UIL 9-6A) were led offensively by junior Bijan Kamalipour, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI. Senior Michael Schoettmer and sophomore Jaden Woodson drove in the Rangers' other two runs. Vankirk struck out six and walked two, allowing no earned runs on five hits. Kamalipour, junior Maccoy Lopez and senior Mark Ready scored the three runs for Jesuit Dallas.
 
Lopez reached base on an error to lead off the contest, scoring on a single to center by Kamalipour. Vankirk faced the minimum number of batters in the first and second inning, working his way out of a bases loaded jam with two outs in the third by striking out the final batter of the frame.
 
A leadoff double by Kamalipour in the fourth inning turned into a run after a single to center by Schoettmer, but the Mustangs once again put the pressure on Vankirk by placing a runner in scoring position with no outs in the inning. The senior struck out two batters and forced an inning-ending lineout to keep the shutout intact. Woodson drove in Ready in the fifth after the senior led off the frame with a single to left, spotting Jesuit a 3-0 lead.
 
J.J. Pearce would score an unearned run in the sixth before the Ranger defense shut the door on the Mustang rally. After a leadoff single, Woodson chased down a ball in foul territory and Vankirk forced a game-ending, 6-4-3 double play to keep Jesuit above .500 in district play heading into the final three weeks of competition.
 
The Rangers will next travel to Lake Highlands for a 7:30 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday before welcoming the Wildcats to Wright Field on Thursday.