Jesuit Dallas dropped the University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A opener to Plano West, 5-3, on Tuesday, Mar. 12 at Wright Field. The Rangers faced an uphill battle from the top of the first, facing a four-run deficit after the fourth, but mounted a two-out comeback in the bottom of the seventh before falling short of their 12th win of the season and a critical win to open the league slate.
 
Sophomore Connor Chavez and senior Marco Marrero drove in one run each as the Rangers (11-6, 0-1) were able to string together four hits against a Plano west pitching staff that racked up eight strikeouts. Marrero, junior Tyson Pointer, sophomores Connor Chavez and Gavin Perryman logged the Rangers' hits while senior Jaden Woodson scored a run along with juniors Tanner Jones and Jalon Mack.
 
Junior Alek Houillion suffered his first loss of the season after throwing 3.1 innings and striking out three. Classmate Ryan Messick entered in relief during the fourth inning, striking out seven and shutting out the Wolves over the final 3.2 innings of the contest.
 
Plano West scored four runs on four hits and one Jesuit error in the top of the first. In the bottom of the frame, Boyle and sophomore Jordan Lawlar seemed to give Jesuit a spark, but strong defensive plays from Plano west snuffed out the Rangers' opportunities. Perryman would record Jesuit's first base hit of the game with two outs in the bottom of the second but was thrown out attempting to advance to second base to end the inning. Messick entered in the top of the fourth and responded to work his way out of a bases-loaded jam yielding only one run to the Wolves.
 
Jesuit's first quality opportunity developed in the bottom of the fifth, when Perryman reached on a fielder's choice then advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. However, with two outs in the inning and two men on, the Rangers flied out to end the threat. Jesuit showed signs of life once again in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to cash in on a leadoff single and one-out single by Boyle which gave the Rangers their second runner in scoring position after another Plano West error.
 
The seventh inning saw Mack reach third after an error by the Plano West outfield. Woodson earned a one-out walk before Marrero cracked a single between the Wolves' shortstop and third baseman, scoring Mack. Marrero's quick running to first forced the shortstop to attempt to throw out Jones at third, however the throw was off line, scoring Jones to cut the lead down to three. Chavez grounded out to third, scoring Woodson and bringing Boyle to the plate, who represented the potential game-tying run. However, Plano West clinched the win by striking out Boyle to end the game.
 
Jesuit will close the season series against Plano West on Friday at Plano West H.S. First pitch between the Rangers and Wolves is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.