FERRIDAY — Hunter Lockhart came on in relief and pitched four and one-third effective innings as the Silliman Institute Wildcats defeated the Trinity Episcopal Saints 13-8 Saturday afternoon at the Huntington Baseball Field.

Silliman got off to a good start with two runs in the top of the first inning and three runs in the top of the third inning for a 5-0 Wildcats lead. Darian Tunstall had the big hit for Silliman in the top of the third with a two-run home run.

But after starting pitcher Mason McKnight gave up five runs in the bottom of the third inning that tied the game at 5-5, Lockhart relieved him with two outs in the frame. And that proved to be the turning point of the game.

Trinity didn’t score off Lockhart until it went into the bottom of the sixth inning trailing the Wildcats 9-5. Lockhart gave up two earned runs on five hits and one walk and he struck out five batters to pick up the win. McKnight pitched two scoreless innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the third. He ended up allowing three earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts, one hit batter and one walk in two and two-thirds innings.

Wyatt Boothe went 3-for-4 and had a run-scoring double in the bottom of the sixth inning. Garrett Vinson as 2-for-3 and doubled in two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Quinton Logan got the start for the Saints. He struck out 10 batters in five innings of work, but he also had control issues. He allowed nine runs, but only two of them were earned, on four hits, five walks and one hit batter.

Then head coach Kyle Ketchings went to the bullpen. Sky Logan pitched a scoreless sixth inning. Jared Hedrick lasted just one-third of an inning and gave up four runs, two of them earned, on two hits, three hit batters and one walk. Jesse Cable went two-thirds on an inning and struck out one batter.

Lockhart helped his own cause by going 3-for-4 and Thomas Myles was 2-for-5. The two teams combined for 16 errors in the game – 11 by Trinity and five by Silliman.

Trinity Episcopal (0-5) plays at 6 p.m. Monday at Riverfield Academy.

Natchez High drops two at Port Gibson Tournament

PORT GIBSON — The Natchez High Bulldogs played two competitive games Saturday at the Port Gibson Tournament, only to come up short against McComb and Port Gibson.

In Game 1, Natchez High had a 4-0 lead over McComb before the Tigers scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 6-4 win. Dalvion Jackson went four and one-third innings and gave up the first five runs of the final frame. Chris Scott came in and allowed one run in two-thirds of an inning.

“We played really well. My pitcher (Jackson) just lost his focus in the end,” Natchez High head coach Brian Kossum said. “I probably waited too long to get him. He’s a competitor.”

In Game 2, Natchez High battled back from an early 3-0 deficit, but in the end the Bulldogs fell to the host Blue Waves 5-3.

“My pitcher, Denzel Washington, struggled in the first inning. He couldn’t really find the zone and allowed three runs,” Kossum said. “He settled (down) after that and gave up two more after that. I was happy to see him redeem himself. He’s a senior and he’s a competitor.”

The Bulldogs cut Port Gibson’s lead to 4-3 midway through the five-inning game before the Blue Waves scored the final run of the game.

“We hit the ball better today. We kept it close both games. We were able to bunt the ball and run the bases a little bit. That was a positive. We’ve just got to keep getting better,” Kossum said.

Natchez High (1-5) hosts Brandon on Tuesday, March 19, with the JV game at 4 p.m. and the varsity game at 6 p.m.

Centreville Academy 5, Ben’s Ford 2

CENTREVILLE — Randy Bell gave up no earned runs on three hits and struck out six batters in four innings as the Centreville Academy Tigers defeated the Ben’s Ford Christian School Eagles Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added another run in the bottom of the second inning before Ben’s Ford cut the lead in half in the top of fourth with two unearned runs. The Tigers answered with one run in the bottom of the fourth. Colby Shaw went 2-for-3 with a double.

Centreville Academy (4-0) plays at Oak Forest Academy on Tuesday with the junior varsity game at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity game at 6:30 p.m.

Block 13, Carroll 3

HARRISONBURG, La. — Jacob Fanning struck out nine batters and gave up just one earned run as the Block Bears defeated the Carroll Bulldogs in five innings in their first game Saturday afternoon at the Harrisonburg Tournament.

Tanner Coldiron knocked in three runs with a double during a six-run first inning for Block, which scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to eventually 10-run rule Carroll. Fanning went the distance and allowed just four hits and walked four batters.