NATCHEZ — Trinity Episcopal Day School’s youth and inexperience showed Tuesday night when the Saints took the field against Franklin Academy in a double-header.

Trinity dropped both games, 18-0 in the first contest and 17-2 in the second contest.

“We got lazy for sure,” Trinity head coach Elliot Meng said. In the first game, we came out and couldn’t really throw strikes. We couldn’t find the zone all night, and that has been the story all season. That is going to kill us. You walk people and give up one hit and they are just going to keep scoring runs.”

Jakarius Caston got the start for Trinity in game one, but struggled going just one and two-third innings, giving up 14 runs on five hits and walking 11 batters.

After scoring three in the first inning, Franklin Academy plated 11 in the second to put the game out of reach, and then added four more in the third to seal the win.

Trinity only recorded two hits in the game, a single from Cortez Adams and a single from Jacob Netterville.

Franklin Academy had two multiple hitters in Gabe Thomas who had three hits and Kyle Sullivan who recorded two.

The struggles on the mound continued in game two with Kevontaye Caston giving up 12 runs on four hits and walking seven.

“In the second game we were flat,” Meng said. “We didn’t want to be out here and the attitude needs to change.”

Caston’s defense didn’t help much, as the Saints committed seven errors in just two innings.

“It is frustrating when your defense isn’t backing you up of course, but they have to be mentally tough and battle up there and throw strikes,” Meng said. “When they’re not throwing strikes and we are making errors, that is when everything falls apart. Being mentally tough is the main thing. Get up there and battle. Don’t be lazy on the mound and don’t give up.”

Trinity took the lead 1-0 after the top of the first thanks to four errors from Franklin Academy. Demond Fleming was able to score after drawing a walk, stealing a base, and crossing the plate after two Cougar errors.

But it wasn’t long before Franklin Academy was back in charge. The Cougars scored 12 runs in the bottom of the first to take all of the air out of Trinity.

Franklin Academy went on to score five in the bottom of the second to increase their lead to 16.

Trinity was able to scratch across another in the top of the third on an RBI-double from Jakarius Caston.

It was the only hit of the game for the Saints.

Meng said his team has to have more patience at the plate if they are going to be successful.

“We need to hit curveballs,” he said. “We’re impatient at the plate and swing at balls, high pitches and low pitches. We have to know the approach to every at bat.”

A bright spot for the Saints came in game one with relief pitcher Trey Gill stepping in after Caston and holding his own on the mound.

“Trey is a seventh grader and has played great for us all year,” Meng said. “He will only get better and I’m excited to have him. He has the best baseball IQ on the team, and he is in the seventh grade. With work, he’ll continue to get better.”

Trinity is scheduled for two games with Tallulah Academy next week.