A three-run rally by the Rangers was answered by a pair of game-deciding runs by the Coppell Cowboys in a 5-3, University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A-opening loss on Tuesday at the CISD Baseball Complex. Coppell jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings, but the Rangers fought their way back in the top of the fifth before the Cowboys took the early lead in the district standings with the win.
 
Sophomore Jalon Mack drive in a run for the Rangers off of a sacrifice fly to left, but the Rangers were limited to only one hit in the contest on a fifth inning line drive to right field by junior Caden Carlson. Jesuit Dallas forced 10 walks, including two apiece from seniors Bijan Kamalipour and Maccoy Lopez alongside junior Garrett Reuben.
 
Junior starting pitcher Jack Lynch threw five innings of work, giving up two earned runs on three hits. Lynch struck out seven batters before being replaced by senior Peter Delkus in the sixth, who threw a seven-pitch inning and holding Coppell scoreless going into the final frame.
 
How it Happened
 

• Lynch struck out four batters over the first four frames, but Coppell was able to scratch a pair of runs across in the bottom of the first. A leadoff double by Coppell in the inning turned into a pair of runs after a run-scoring out and a pair of passed balls.
   
• The Cowboys would add another run in the bottom of the second with a heads-up running play as Coppell's Blake Jackson scored on a dropped third strike. Coppell starting pitcher and Louisiana State University (LSU) commit Rye Gunter held the Rangers without a hit for 4.1 innings.
   
• Kamalipour forced a walk to lead off the Jesuit fifth, moving to third after a walk to sophomore Tanner Jones and a hit batter. With Carlson at the plate, a wild pitch plated Kamalipour before Jones crossed home plate on a failed pickoff attempt from the Coppell catcher. Carlson laced a shot to right field to move pinch runner Tyler Murrah to third before Mack cracked a deep fly to left field that scored the senior to tie the game at 3-3 going into the bottom of the frame.
   
• Coppell struck back in the bottom of the inning as a walk turned into a run after a stolen base and two passed balls. The Cowboys tacked on their final run of the game on a single to right field, shutting the door on the Rangers with a runner at third in the top of the sixth and a runner at second in the seventh.

 
Up Next
 
The Rangers will welcome the Cowboys to Wright Field on Friday, May 16 for their district home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.