A hard-fought, 2-1 win over Lovejoy helped the Rangers finish the 2020 Jesuit Dallas Baseball Classic with a 3-2-1 record as the Blue and Gold were able to shake off a 5-3 setback to Rockwall to start Saturday's action at Wright Field. The Rangers, who now hold a 6-4-2 overall mark, will close the non-district schedule next week at the Frisco Tournament from Mar. 12-14 before entering district play on Mar. 17.
 
Senior Ryan Messick threw a complete game on Saturday, striking out five batters while allowing one run on four hits. Sophomore Cash Riley's first triple of the season jump-started the Jesuit offense in the third, helping the Rangers tie the game after Lovejoy scored in the top of the second. Senior Braxton Boyle added his ninth RBI of the young season for the go-ahead run, plating Riley to close out the third inning.
 
Lovejoy threatened to tie the game in the top of the fourth, putting a runner on third after a Jesuit error. However, senior Tanner Jones threw out the runner at home on the next at bat for the second out of the inning. Messick forced a lineout to center fielder Gavin Perryman to end the inning with runners on second and third. Jesuit retired Lovejoy in order during the fifth and sixth inning before Messick finished the complete game by working himself out of a jam in the seventh, forcing the last two outs with runners at first and second.
 
Rockwall took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a home run by designated hitter Travis Gober, but an RBI single by senior Jake Koger cut the Yellow Jacket lead in half. After Rockwall scored runs in the second, third and fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead, Lawlar finished a 2-for-3 afternoon with a run-scoring single to center, bringing Jones home to cut the lead to three runs. Senior Alek Houillion plated Koger in the bottom of the fifth to close the Ranger scoring.
 
Jesuit will return to action on Thursday, Mar. 12 as the Blue and Gold will compete in the Frisco Tournament. The first game is scheduled for 9 a.m. as the Rangers will battle Braswell at Reedy H.S. Thursday's action will conclude at 12:30 p.m. as Jesuit takes on Westmoore (Okla.).