With the bases loaded, the go-ahead run at the plate and two out for the Rangers in the top of the sixth inning Wednesday, Giants relief pitcher Alec Lopez notched his third strikeout of the inning, killing the Rangers threat and capping the Giants 4-1 win in opening-round action of the Ripon Little League majors playoffs at Thielmann Athletic Park.

The big inning for the Giants was a three-run third. Colten Roen singled in Clark Fullmer (2 for 2, two runs), Ayden Brown plated Roen on an infield single and Zeke Swier (2 for 2, two RBI) singled in Brown.

Swier singled in Fullmer in the fourth and Cameron Blake was 2 for 3 for the Giants.

Fullmer went the first five innings on the mound, giving up one run on five hits with eight strikeouts, striking out the side in the second.

Owen Paulsen led off the fourth for the Rangers with a single and scored on Jack Avery’s double. Levi Hoekman was 2 for 4 for the Rangers.    

The Giants play the Phillies in a second-round contest tonight at 7 and the Rangers will face either the Red Sox or the A’s on Friday at 6 p.m.