The Natchez High Bulldogs scored all the runs they needed, and got, in the bottom of the second inning, and pitcher Brian Kossum had a solid performance on the mound en route to a 5-3 win over the Provine Rams in a Division 6-5A game Tuesday night at Chester Willis Field.

With the win, Natchez improved to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in district play.

Kossum got off to a good start by striking out the side to start the game. He finished with nine strikeouts and allowed two earned runs on six hits in seven innings to pick up the win. The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Justin Cleveland smacked a lead-off double to right field and scored on a one-out RBI double by Mario Hopkins. Marques Kinds led things off for NHS in the bottom of the second with a single that was followed by Lance Harveston’s double that brought in Kinds.

&uot;That was a fastball right down the middle and I hit it,&uot; Harveston said. &uot;It was the hardest ball I hit all season.&uot;

Harveston scored on an RBI single by Carl Hayes, who went to second on the throw to home plate. He then stole third and scored on a one-out RBI single by Calvin Jackson, who scored on an RBI single by Barlow. With two on and two outs, Nolan Coward hit a ground ball to third base. Barlow scored before Kossum was tagged out by third baseman Marquavis Dixon.

Coward was credited with an RBI fielder’s choice as the Bulldogs took a 5-1 lead. Hopkins then settled down and allowed only one hit, a single by Harveston, in the next four innings.