[9/12/01] A bad hitting day alone would have made it tough for the Vicksburg Missy Gators to beat Natchez on Tuesday. A bad fielding day made it impossible.

The Missy Gators (6-7, 0-2 Division 6-5A) managed only six hits and committed five errors including three that led to two unearned runs in a 3-1 loss to the Lady Dawgs (5-1, 1-0).

“It hurts. We needed this game today. We just have to come back and play hard on Thursday,” said VHS coach Jennifer Wilkerson, whose team will face archrival Warren Central on Thursday. “We just didn’t hit the ball. My team is a better offensive team than what we showed today.”

VHS took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Brandi Parker led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Viola Howard.

The Missy Gators’ bats went into a freeze after that, however. VHS had a hit in all but one inning, but never got more than two base runners on in any inning.

Natchez also struggled early. The Lady Dawgs had only two hits in the first four innings, but broke through in the fifth when the VHS defense broke down.

With a runner on first, Natchez’s Leslie Patrick singled to center. The ball hopped over the glove of Howard, who was charging the ball, and Toya Patterson scored from first to tie the game.

After the Missy Gators went down in order in the bottom of the fifth, the scene seemed to replay itself in the sixth.

Natchez’s Mable Green reached on an error to start the inning. After two fielder’s choices, Johanna Farmer singled to center. The ball was again misplayed by the VHS outfield, allowing Karmethia Mazique to score from first to give Natchez a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Dalisa Lewis delivered an RBI single.

“Natchez is a quick team,” Wilkerson said. “They run the bases well, and you don’t need to make errors against them because they’re going to run.”

WC 14, Hazlehurst 2

Warren Central scored 10 runs in the last two innings Tuesday to open up a close game against Hazlehurst and claim the win.

WC’s Tranyce Peoples went 3-for-4 with a two-run triple that sparked a five-run rally in the sixth inning. Cookie Johnson, who went 2-for-3, finished the rally with a three-run triple later in the inning.

Lyn Strawn and Katie Barnett also had a double and a single apiece as the Lady Vikes collected 11 hits.

The win set up a key division game Thursday with crosstown rival Vicksburg.

The Lady Vikes, who beat Vicksburg last week, can clinch a playoff berth with a win at home.

VHS must win to keep its playoff hopes alive.