NATCHEZ — A nine-run third inning proved to be the difference Wednesday night as University Academy of Central Louisiana beat Trinity Episcopal 19-7 in four innings.

The Saints entered the top of the third clinging to a 7-6 advantage, but surrendered five runs with two outs.

Despite a number of untimely errors and ill-advised throws, Trinity pitcher Cole Switzer managed to get through the first two innings with limited damage, but the junior hurler wasn’t able to get through the third.

“We had our pitcher get tired,” Trinity coach Elliot Meng said. “He threw enough pitches that we didn’t want to overwork him (Wednesday). He was battling up there, and he gave us a good start. He’s our ace.”

Switzer tossed 2.2 innings, allowing just three earned runs and striking out two batters.

Switzer was helped out in the second with a nifty diving snag by shortstop Sam Mosby. The seventh grader leapt from his shortstop post, ranging to his right to snare a line drive, and then slung a strike to first to double off the runner.

“He’s a gamer,” Meng said of his shortstop. “We trust him out there, and we can put him out there with confidence.”

Trinity fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first, but fought back to take a 5-2 advantage in the bottom of the frame.

Jacob Nettervile tallied an RBI single, and Hollis Lees recorded an RBI groundout in the rally.

The Lions then roared back in the top of the second to jump back ahead 6-5. But the Saints responded two runs of their own in the bottom of the second.

Trey White smacked a runs-scoring single to tie the game, then Mosby put his squad ahead, 7-6, with an RBI groundout.

“When we get guys on base, we can get them around the basepaths,” Meng said. “We got some clutch hitting, and we have plenty of speed. As long as we hit the ball and don’t strike out, we’ll be OK.”

Trinity next game will be March 21 when it hosts Wilkinson County Christian.

“We have to go over those (little) things, and drill those (little) things in them every day,” Meng said. “We had a sloppy field this past week, so we didn’t have as much practice as we wanted to.”