MONROE, La. – Jamie Creel called Thursday’s 5-4 loss to Ouachita the most disgusting loss he’s had in his tenure at Vicksburg High.

The Gators torched Ouachita (8-6) pitcher Logan Carroll for 11 hits, but managed only four first-inning runs in the opening game of the Ouachita tournament.

&#8220You put up 11 hits, eight over the last six innings and you can’t score a run, scratch a run, it’s a bunch of selfish cuts,” said Creel, whose team is scheduled for a doubleheader today. &#8220It’s the ability to put people away. We did it early, but we have not done it lately. We have been trying to rely on our pitching, and that’s not gonna cut it.”

Gators’ pitcher Stanton Price had command through five innings, holding the Lions to no runs and two hits – both by Carroll. Price ran into trouble in the sixth when Carroll belted a two-run home run to slice the deficit in half.

Price responded by retiring the next three batters in order to keep the Vicksburg lead at 4-2.

Vicksburg (10-2), which had runners on base in every inning except the second, put runners on second and third in the top of the seventh, but a tiring Carroll struck out Gerald Mims to end the threat and set up Ouachita’s big seventh.

Price walked Blake Deron to lead off the seventh, then, with one out, walked Casey Burton. Logan Ledford then grounded into a fielder’s choice to put runners on first and third with two outs.

Creel took a visit to the mound, but said Price wanted to stay in the game. Creel left the sophomore in and Patrick Demers responded with a two-RBI triple to tie the game.

&#8220I should have taken him out before the triple. I will take full responsibility for that,” Creel said.

After intentionally walking Carroll, who had already gone 3-for-3, Brent Cupit squeezed a grounder past shortstop to score Demers and give the Lions the victory.

&#8220I knew I was going to win the ballgame,” said Cupit, who had struck out his previous three at-bats. &#8220I hadn’t hit the ball all night and he thought he could strike me out.”

Price pitched 6 2/3 innings to take the loss. He allowed five runs on five hits. Carroll took the win after settling down after a rocky first.

&#8220I couldn’t locate early,” Carroll said. &#8220They hit fastballs that were strikes. I think when they went down 1-2-3 in the second, it gave us some momentum.”

Tanner Woodson, playing catcher for injured Tyler Wells, led VHS with three singles. Vernon Wolfe and Steven Price each had a pair of hits and Stanton Price doubled.

Steven Price started the first-inning rally with a single and scored on Wolfe’s first hit. Stanton Price then scored Wolfe on a two-out double for a 2-0 lead. RBI singles by Woodson and Eric Coleman handed Vicksburg a 4-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

Today’s games.

2:30 p.m. – PCA vs. Jackson Academy.

at Jackson Prep.

4:30 p.m. – Vicksburg vs. West Ouachita.

at Ouachita.

4:30 p.m. – WC vs. Dutchtown (at Neville).

7 p.m. – Warren Central at Neville.

Saturday’s games.

12:15 p.m. – VHS vs. Barbe (at Ouachita).

1 p.m. – St. Al hosts Madison-St. Joe.

2:30 p.m. – PCA at Jackson Prep.

3:45 p.m. – VHS at Neville.

4:30 p.m. – WC vs W. Ouachita.

(at Ouachita).

5 p.m. – PCA vs. Benton (at Prep).

7 p.m. – WC at Ouachita