JACKSON — The last thing the Adams County Christian School Lady Rebels wanted to be was the first team to lose to the Jackson Academy Lady Raiders this season.

Despite being in MAIS Class AAA, Jackson Academy went into Tuesday afternoon’s game with an 0-16 record. And the majority of those losses were of the blowout variety, including a 12-6 loss to ACCS in Natchez back on Aug. 1.

The rematch between the two teams was a much closer game. But for the Lady Raiders, it turned out to be yet another loss as they fell to the Lady Rebels 5-3.

The win for ACCS evened its overall record at 12-12. But it wasn’t a routine victory for the Lady Rebels as they committed five errors, which head coach Forrest Foster said is uncharacteristic for his team.

“We played out of position a little bit today. We had a couple of girls sick, and that’s why we had so many errors,” Foster said.

ACCS took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Tory Laird hit a one-out double and scored on a two-out double by Ashton Mason. In the top of the second, the Lady Rebels made it 2-0 on Nikki Worthy’s RBI single.

But it was the top of the third inning that turned out to be the difference in the outcome of this five-inning game. Jessica Reynolds led off with a single and was followed by a single by Laird. Braxtyn Elveston executed a perfect bunt single that brought in Reynolds. Laird then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Mason that gave the Lady Rebels a 4-0 lead.

“We hit the ball fairly well. But we hit it right at them (at times),” Foster said. “We were flat at the beginning. Then we had things going good. We put the ball in play all night, but we had strikeouts at inopportune moments.”

Which included the top of the third, which ended with Lady Raiders senior pitcher Mackenzie Carmody getting out of a jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

“Their pitcher did a good job. She threw fast,” Foster said.

Carmody allowed seven hits, struck out six and walked one in five innings. ACCS pitcher Brooke Runnels pitched solidly in picking up the win as he allowed just three hits, struck out four and walked four in five innings.

“Brooke’s improved a whole lot. Defense made a miscue or two behind her, but that’s okay. We got the win,” Foster said. “Every run they had was unearned. It wasn’t nearly as close as the scored indicated.”

Jackson Academy (0-17) scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning. After neither team scored in the fourth inning, ACCS tacked on a run in the top of the fifth and JA could only muster up one run in the bottom of the fifth.

Laird went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Reynolds, who Foster said hasn’t been hitting the ball well lately, went 1-for-3 and scored once. Mason drove in two runs in her two plate appearances.

ACCS plays at Columbia Academy for an important MAIS District 5-AA game on Saturday with the junior varsity game at 2 p.m. and the varsity game at 3:15 p.m.

Franklin County 18,

Crystal Springs 1

MEADVILLE — KeKe Collins had a double and a triple among her three hits and Mildred Starks pitched a one-hitter as the Franklin County Lady Bulldogs routed the Crystal Springs Lady Tigers Tuesday night in MHSAA Region 7-3A action.

It didn’t very long for Franklin County to answer Crystal Springs’ one and only run of the game in the top of the first inning. The Lady Bulldogs responded big time with an 11-run rally in the bottom of the first.

Franklin County (10-4, 2-0) then scored seven runs in the bottom of the second to take the 17-run lead. Mildred Starks then pitcher her second straight scoreless inning in the top of the third to run-rule the Lady Tigers.

Collins went 3-for-3 to lead the Lady Bulldogs’ 17-hit attack. Kiarra Sykes and Jamecia Starks each went 2-for-2 with a double. The Lady Tigers also helped by committing six errors.

Losing pitcher S. Dyhter had the only hit and scored the only run for Crystal Springs.

Franklin County will be on the road Thursday for its next game at Region 7-3A newcomer Prentiss with the JV game at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity game at 5:30 p.m.