MADISON – Vicksburg High baseball coach Jamie Creel said his Gators made a poor showing at the plate Friday night.

Madison Central’s Jordan Faulkner was part of the problem. Faulkner, a senior right-hander, allowed two runs on two hits and struck out 14 batters, including the first seven in a row, as the Jaguars claimed a 3-2 Division 3-5A victory. Madison Central (10-2, 4-0) is now two games ahead of both VHS and Warren Central.

Vicksburg (6-5, 2-2) had hoped to get revenge for an 11-0 loss to the Jaguars earlier in the week, but couldn’t solve Faulkner.

&#8220We’re a good team,” Creel said, &#8220Our approach at the plate stunk tonight. We only had two ground balls tonight. We’re not doing a good job at the plate.”

The lack of offense also took the shine off a good pitching performance by Andrew Brown, who fell to 2-3.

&#8220He threw very well,” Creel said. &#8220He did a good job mixing it up and hitting his spots.”

Madison Central coach Gregg Perry praised Faulkner, who improved to 2-0 in going the distance.

&#8220We thought about taking him out after the sixth, but he said it was his game and he wanted to do it, and he did,” Perry said.

The breaking ball was the key for Faulkner, who entered the game with a 1.95 ERA.

&#8220I was able to get it over the whole game,” he said. &#8220I had all my pitches working tonight. It was good.”

Vicksburg got on the board first. The first Gator batter not to strike out was Bowen Woodson who singled in the bottom of the third inning, advanced to second on walk and then stole third. He scored when Faulkner threw away a pickoff attempt at first base.

After giving up two runs in the bottom of the third, the Gators tied it in the top of the fourth Tyler Wells walked, advanced on a single and then scored on Brown’s sacrifice fly.

Madison Central got the winning run in the bottom of the fourth when it collected three straight, two-out singles, with Michael Rutland getting the go-ahead RBI.