FLOWOOD — In the wake of Tuesday’s error-filled loss to Yazoo City, the Vicksburg Gators endured a practice loaded with fielding drills.

The next time they get together, the emphasis is sure to be on the mental side of the game.

The Gators fell victim to a series of baserunning blunders and mental miscues, wasted a late three-run lead and lost 7-6 in extra innings to Hillcrest, Ala. at the Mid-Mississippi Classic.

“We’re still trying to unify as a team. We’re still moving guys around. We’re putting freshmen in positions where they can’t be freshmen,” said Vicksburg coach Cody Zumbro, whose team committed three key errors in a 6-5 loss to Yazoo City on Tuesday. “I think that game is going to make us better. It’s a loss, but it doesn’t get in the way of our goals.”

The Gators also wasted a 3-0 lead after 2 ½ innings, but recovered to take a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth. Hillcrest used a couple of timely hits and an innocent, but huge mistake to tie it again.

With one out and runners on second and third, Luke Wingo singled to center field to cut it to 6-4. Vicksburg center fielder Lamar Anthony fielded the ball in shallow center and trotted into the infield with it as he checked the runner at third. When Anthony lobbed the ball back toward pitcher Cody Waddell, however, it fell in between three other VHS players and rolled past the mound. Jake Vickerson scored from third and Wingo advanced to second. Sullivan then knocked in Wingo with a base hit to tie it at 6.

Vicksburg had two chances to retake the lead, but hit into inning-ending double plays in each of its last two at-bats. In the seventh inning, Clyde Kendrick tried to score on a grounder to shortstop by Cody Waddell. Waddell was thrown out at first, then Kendrick was tagged out on a close play at the plate.

“I’m going to take a chance with him,” Zumbro said of Kendrick, the Gators’ fastest runner. “They had to make a perfect throw to get him and they made a perfect throw.”

In the eighth inning, freshmen Michael Rohrer was caught off second when Anthony grounded out. Rohrer was thrown out at third, and Hillcrest made the Gators pay for the mistake in the bottom of the inning.

Vickerson drew a leadoff walk and was bunted to second. A wild pitch and two intentional walks followed to set up a force at home, but Justin Bradley singled through a drawn-in infield to give the Patriots the 7-6 victory.

“We fixed our fielding errors. Tonight it was a lack of focus,” Zumbro said. “I was pleased with our hitting performance. We need better baserunning.”