NATCHEZ — The Natchez High School baseball team put itself in a deep hole early in its game against South Pike High School Friday night, and the Bulldogs were unable to claw their way back into the game.

South Pike scored seven runs in the first two innings before Natchez even got a hit in the contest. And the most frustrating thing for Natchez head coach Brian Kossum was that Natchez did a lot to help South Pike score, he said.

“We’ve go to stop coming out and giving up six or seven runs in the first inning,” Kossum said. “When I came in this year, I wanted to stress small ball, but we’re not able to do that when we’re behind seven or eight runs.”

Natchez managed a couple of hits in the later innings but ended up falling 13-2 in five innings.

Natchez committed three errors, and starting pitcher Jadarrius Ivory surrendered eight walks to help South Pike score its first seven runs.

But Kossum said he was more disappointed with the way his team played in the field and its lack of offense.

“We are not hitting the ball,” he said.

The Bulldogs managed just two hits — singles by Derrian Johnson and Travez Lyles.

South Pike’s Blake Lantrip pitched all five innings for the visitors to get the win.

Natchez used four pitchers in the game, and Kossum said he was pleased with the way a couple of guys threw the ball Friday.

“I thought Dalvion Jackson threw well, and Denzel Washington came in and redeemed himself (from a previous outing),” Kossum said.

Natchez cut its deficit to 7-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Johnson singled home Lee Jackson.

But South Pike answered with three runs in the top of the fourth inning and three more in the top of the fifth to go up 13-1.

Jackson reached on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fifth and came around to score on a pass ball, but that was not enough to prevent the Bulldogs from falling by the 10-run rule.

Ivory took the loss for the Bulldogs, who will travel to face Terry High School Monday.