Jesuit took a 2-0 first inning lead and never looked back en route to a 6-0 victory over McKinney on Tuesday at Wright Field. By winning their fourth consecutive game and third straight district contest, the Rangers move into sole possession of the final playoff spot in UIL District 9-6A ahead of Thursday's series finale at McKinney H.S.
 
Junior Ryan Messick moved to 5-0 on the season following another stellar performance on the mound. Messick threw a complete game shutout, going the distance and striking out five while only allowing three hits. Juniors Jalon Mack and Braxton Boyle batted 2-for-3 on Tuesday and drove in two runs apiece. Senior Garrett Reuben tacked on a pair of hits and an RBI as seniors Caden Carlson and Jack Lynch recorded one hit each.
 
McKinney hoped to score in the first and put the leadoff runner on base with a single to left center, but the Rangers turned a 4-6-3 double play to eliminate the Lions' scoring threat. Back-to-back one-out singles by Boyle and Lynch and an error by the McKinney outfield put runners at second and third during the first inning. Boyle scored on a groundout by Mack before Reuben fought his way back from an 0-2 count in the ensuing at-bat, fouling off five pitches before squaring up for a line drive up that middle that scored Lynch for a two-run lead.

Messick retired the Lions in order during the second inning in order before Mack and Carlson converted an inning-ending, 4-3 double play in the third. After a scoreless fourth inning for either team, Jesuit distanced itself from McKinney in the bottom of the fifth.

A walk to sophomore Gavin Perryman and a fielder's choice by senior Cooper Shawl put two runners on with one out. Chavez reached on another fielder's choice before advancing to second on a throwing error by McKinney, a miscue which also allowed Perryman to score.
 
Boyle laced a two-run single to center, scoring Chavez and Shawl to increase the lead to five before a single by Mack brought home the junior to send Jesuit into the sixth with a 6-0 lead. Messick retired the final six batters in order to clinch the win for the Rangers.
 
The Rangers and Lions will square off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday to conclude their regular season series. Jesuit will close the regular season next week with a two-game series against Plano East, a series which will begin on Tuesday in Plano, Texas before Jesuit will host its annual senior night at Wright Field on Friday, Apr. 26.