The Rangers came back from a three-run deficit in the third inning to capture an 8-4 win over Plano East on Sunday in Plano, Texas. Jesuit will enter the postseason on a 14-game winning streak after scoring four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth and will play Rowlett in the first round of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region 2-6A Tournament.
Â
Sophomore
Tyson Pointer drove in two runs for the Rangers, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Senior
Maccoy Lopez scored a team-high three runs for the Rangers, forcing two walks while batting 1-for-2. Seniors
Bijan Kamalipour and
Luke Przybylski racked up multi-hit games as Kamalipour launched Jesuit's lone multi-base hit, a triple in the first inning.
Â
Junior
Jack Lynch earned the win on the mound with six strikeouts during three innings of work. Junior
Ben Shepherd and senior
Chris Irby additionally shut down the Panthers in relief appearances as Shepherd threw three innings, striking out three batters as Irby threw the seventh inning, striking out one batter while securing the win with a hitless seventh inning.
Â
How it Happened
Â
- Kamalipour crushed a triple to right center with two outs in the first inning, allowing Lopez to score the Rangers' first run of the game. Plano East took the lead back with four hits in the bottom of the third off of one run, one error and five walks, taking a 4-1 advantage into the top of the fourth.
Â
- Lopez reached base on an infield single to lead off the fourth inning as the Rangers loaded the bases after a single to center by Kamalipour before senior Paul Gramling was hit by a pitch. Pointer laced a single throughout he left side to plate Kamalipour and Lopez, drawing the Rangers to within one run. A single to center by Przybylski tied the game before the Rangers took the lead on a single to center field by junior Caden Carlson.
Â
- Lynch struck out two batters in the bottom of the fourth before Jesuit increased its lead in the top of the fifth. Lopez forced a walk to lead off the fifth, scoring on a misplay from the Plano East defense. A single to left from senior Tyler Murrah put the Rangers up by three. Mack scored on another Plano East error in the sixth to increase the Rangers' lead to four runs.
Â
- In the bottom of the sixth, Shepherd retired his eighth consecutive batter before the Panthers placed a runner into scoring position with one out. However, the junior retired the Plano East sixth before Irby shut the door on the Panthers, forcing a game-ending double play with two runners in scoring position.
Â
Up Next
Â
The Rangers will battle Rowlett in a three-game playoff series that begins at Postell Stadium on Thursday, May 3 before traveling to Rowlett on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. first pitch. If a third game is necessary, it will take place in Prosper, Texas on Saturday, May 5.
