The Vicksburg Venom split its first two games at the 12-year-olds’ USSSA Global World Series on Thursday in Cordova, Tenn.

In the first game, the Venom fell 12-0 to the MS Elite, who used a five-run fourth inning and a seven-run fifth to turn a 0-0 tie into a blowout.

In the second game, the Venom jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first inning, and hung on to win 9-5 over Cherokee Baseball Academy.

Dale Griffith was the winning pitcher for the Venom. Brooks Boolos went 4-for-5 in the two games and pitched the final 12⁄3 innings of the second game.