VIDALIA, La. –&160;Kevin Laird held Natchez to three hits as the Vikings defeated the Bulldogs 12-0 to advance in the winner’s bracket of the Vidalia High Tournament Saturday.

The tournament was shortened because of Friday’s showers, with all games Saturday and Sunday going five innings.

Laird faced 17 batters over five innings, striking out five. He threw only six pitches in the third inning to retire the side.

&uot;The wind was blowing, which moved the ball around,&uot; Laird said. &uot;Our fielding helped out a whole bunch.&uot;

Laird got more than enough help in the bottom of the first as Jarrett Hoffpauir led off with a walk, Adam Probst doubled and Rod Donald hit his eighth home run of the season over the right field fence where a gusty wind was blowing out.

&uot;Our bats were really working,&uot; Laird said. &uot;I was just trying to get ahead on the count and throw strikes.&uot;

Vidalia scored four runs in the second as Ryan Boles walked, Terrell Williams and Hoffpauir singled, Probst reached on an error and Collin Taunton delivered a two-run single.

Donald delivered an RBI single before Natchez starter Brian Kossum was replaced by Leon Stewart, who retired the next two batters.

Vidalia, which totaled nine hits, added four more in the fourth on doubles by Hoffpauir, Taunton and Boles and a single by Dillon.

Marques Kinds doubled for Natchez, while Brock Barlow and Kossum singled.

Rapides pitcher Matt Peterson allowed only one hit as the Mustangs defeated Springhill 2-0 in the first game Saturday.