With a score more befitting of a fast-pitch softball game rather than a slow-pitch one, Natchez Cathedral’s Brandi McGraw tossed a 2-0 shutout of St. Aloysius Monday at Halls Ferry Park.

McGraw struck out seven Lady Flashes, including the side in the sixth inning, but still needed a big catch from shortstop Megan Whittington in St. Al’s last at bat.

With St. Al’s Catelyn Park and Sara Howington in scoring position and two out, Emily Stewart sent a potential game-tying line drive toward Whittington, who was there for the game-ending catch.

&#8220Another two inches and we have a tie game,” said St. Al coach Gene Rogillio, who was not that disturbed about his team’s lack of offense. &#8220The hitting’s going to come. But the reason we’re playing this game is to work on our defense.

&#8220When our defense is that good, I can live with that. It’s the best we’ve looked on defense since we’ve been playing. We played heads-up and we played smart.”

St. Al did not make an error until the seventh inning. Shortstop Catelyn Park was sharp, getting a hand in six plays with five assists.

Cathedral (2-0), though, got just enough offense to squeak out the win. Kristina Brumfield belted a solo home run in the first on a ball that skirted past both right-side outfielders to the fence.

The Green Wave added a second run in the fourth when Anna Huffines reached on a hit to left and later scored on the fourth hit of the inning, a single by Jenny Allen.

St. Al’s only scoring chances came in the fourth and the seventh with the top of the lineup batting in both instances.

Park had a one-out hit in the fourth but was erased on a fielder’s choice. Carrie Hattaway then got the second of her two hits with a single to left that appeared to send Howington to third. But a good relay to Melissa Calvin got Howington out to end the inning.

In the St. Al seventh, Park again singled and was followed by a hit to center by Howington. Hattaway popped up and Taylor Ann Hasty reached on an error to load the bases for Stewart.

Cathedral coach Pam Clayton credited a variety of pitches by McGraw as a difference.

&#8220She’s got a wide range of pitches, including a low arch, high arch and a lob,” Clayton said.

St. Al (3-2) was limited to six hits by McGraw. Park and Hattaway each had two singles.

Brumfield led the Green Wave with two hits and an RBI. Allen also had two hits, as did Huffines.