TALLULAH — It was a day of firsts for the infant Tallulah Academy fast-pitch program.

A first hit by Sarah Russell. A first run by Ashton Machen. A first extra-base hit.

But the Lady Trojans got the most important first of all, a win, as they overcame an early eight-run deficit to rip visiting Porters Chapel 20-9 in a run-rule shortened contest on Monday.

“It’s been tough,” Tallulah coach Allison Ulmer said. “I haven’t had a practice with all my girls because of vacations, church camp and all, but the girls have been working hard. We’ve got a bunch of good athletes who were patient at the plate and ran smartly on the bases. I’m very proud of them.”

Tallulah Academy’s fast-pitch program wasn’t the only youthful club on the diamond, as the resurrected PCA (0-1) program got back into gear after a year of playing only junior varsity.

Third baseman Kendall Barrett supplied the offense for the Lady Trojans (1-0), as she drove in two runs off the program’s inaugural extra-base hit, a double, and later knocked in two more with a shot down the first base line.

Early, the Lady Eagles dominated as errors and walks combined to prime the pump on the bases as they put seven runs on the board in the top of the second.

“I got kind of frustrated, but you have to bear with it and go for it,”  Tallulah pitcher Allie Kate Gossett said.

But the Lady Trojans bounced back, thanks to some wildness by PCA hurler Lindsey Collins.

Ashton Machen scored Tallulah’s first run off a wild pitch and when Gossett slid into home off another uncorked offering, the Lady Trojans had their first lead. Later in the frame, Kimberly Hodge stole home to put Tallulah up 11-9.

In the third, Gossett allowed one run, but the Lady Trojan defense got a quick three outs to get the offense rolling again.

Tallulah scored nine more, keyed by Barrett’s two-run single, before the game was called. Gossett earned the victory with one strikeout despite yielding nine earned runs. Collins absorbed the loss for PCA.

PCA coach Amanda Yocum, despite the tough loss, is positive about her team’s future despite only having three seniors.

“It’s going to be OK,” Yocum said. “They’re a young group. We’re going to get there.”

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com