ABILENE, Texas - Junior
Roman Derichsweiler connected on a 2-run single in the fifth inning to give Jesuit Dallas the lead on its way to a 3-2 series sweep over Midland at Crutcher Scott Field on Saturday.
Derichsweiler went 2-for-3 and extended his hitting streak to 18 games while raising his batting average to a team-high .500 on the year. He also had a pair of RBI in the 10-2 game one win on Friday, which marked the 600th in 17 seasons at Jesuit for head coach
Brian Jones.
Jesuit improves to 30-7-2 overall and will face Flower Mound Marcus (25-11) in the University Interscholastic League 6A Division 2 Region 1 final next week.
The Rangers went ahead 1-0 in the fourth when
Brooks Kowal scored on a
Nate Iannariello sacrifice fly. Kowal opened the inning with an infield single - extending his hitting streak to 19 games and stole second, before going to third on a
James Jorgensen base hit.
In the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs took their first lead of the series on a ground out and single up the middle.
The Rangers fought back in the home half of the fifth, loading the bases after a pair of strikeouts.
Taylor Haddock singled to center before Kowal walked and then Jorgensen hit a ground ball up the middle that Kowal slid into second before Midland shortstop Jojo Lievens could receive the ball from second baseman Ismael Navarez. That set the stage for Derichsweiler's bouncer through the big hole on the left side of the infield.
The Bulldogs threatened in the sixth, putting two runners on before reliever
Jack Lattanzio got a ground out to second to end the threat. Closer
Hudson Voss came on in the seventh and shut the door to record his third save of the year.
Starter
Jacob Martinez (8-2) struck out six in 5.2 innings, while allowing two runs on six hits and four walks.
The win puts Jesuit into the regional final for the first time since 2017.
