The Rangers threatened Coppell on several occasions, but several sensational defensive plays by the Cowboys snapped Jesuit's 18-game winning streak and gave Coppell a one-game lead in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region I-6A Area Round with a 2-0 win over the Rangers on Thursday night at Wright Field.
 
Senior Gavin Perryman went 2-for-3 from the plate with a single and a double as senior Gardner Lawrence and junior Jake Storey each recorded singles. Senior Tucker Huhn threw 6.2 innings on the mound, pitching for contact and keeping the Cowboys on the ground to the tune of 12 groundouts while allowing two runs on five hits.  
 
Junior Cash Riley registered the first of several stunning defensive plays on the night with a diving catch in center to end the top of the second inning. Jesuit's first scoring attempt came in bottom of the second as senior Nick Lazzara was hit by a pitch to put a runner aboard.
 
Senior pinch runner Charlie McCollum stole second and came home on a single through the right side by Lawrence, but Coppell's right fielder, Andrew Nester, fired a rocket to catcher Bradley Castillo to tag McCollum out at home to keep the game scoreless. The Cowboys would score their first run of the game in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The Rangers pieced together another major opportunity in the fifth inning. Storey opened the offense with a one-out single to right before Perryman's double down the left field line moved pinch runner Walker Houdek to second base. However, Coppell pitcher Will Rodman worked his way out of the jam, forcing a pair of fly outs to right field to retire the side.
 
Lawlar was hit by a pitch to reach base in the sixth and moved into scoring position with a stolen base, but the Rangers were again held scoreless in the inning as Rodman recorded the final two outs of the inning. Coppell added an insurance run with two outs in the seventh before Rodman finished the complete game by retiring the Rangers in order.
 
Jesuit will travel to Coppell on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. first pitch start. If the Rangers force a decisive third game, it will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Lake Dallas H.S. in Corinth, Texas.