Facing pressure situations for the first time this season, the Vicksburg Missy Gators came up big.

Pitcher Faith Thomas got two crucial strikeouts with a runner on third base to preserve a one-run lead, and hitter Victoria Lewis had a big two-out double in the bottom of the fifth to extend it. The plays led to an 8-5 win over Riverside that kept Vicksburg (3-0) unbeaten going into Saturday’s Franklin County Tournament.

Thomas was dominant in shutting down Riverside after the Lady Bulldogs had closed to within 5-4 in the fifth inning. She got a pair of strikeouts to strand the tying run at third base.

Thomas retired the last eight batters she faced, including five by strikeout. She finished with 13 strikeouts for the game, and allowed just two walks and two hits.

“I just tried to keep the ball inside,” Thomas said. “My screwball worked well. I’m very happy we’re 3-0.”

Lewis was a key factor on offense. She went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. But it was her RBI double in the fifth that was the game’s biggest hit. It came on an 0-2 pitch with two outs and a runner on third.

“I saw where I had to score that run,” Lewis said. “I didn’t do very well on the 0-1 pitch, but I got a good cut on a low strike.”

Lewis drove the ball into deep left to score Paige Bowser for a 6-4 lead. Two Riverside errors allowed Lewis and Kortni Newman to score and make it 8-4.

Vicksburg coach Amanda Yocum liked how her team battled back from a 3-1 deficit after 31⁄2 ininngs.

“We made some good things happen,” Yocum said. “We became a little more patient at the plate. We hung in there and played the full seven innings.”

Riverside was able to capitalize on three Vicksburg errors to go with hits by Allyson Raymond and Mollie Simpson to grab its 3-1 lead.

In the VHS fourth, Bowser led off with an infield single, then stole second. Thomas knocked her in with a hit to right. That was followed by a single from Sydney Bufkin and Lewis’ bunt hit loaded the bases. Bufkin scored on Newman’s fly out to right and Lewis scored on Torey Daniels’ ground out to second.

“This was a wonderful win against a Riverside team that was comparable to us,” Lewis said. “We just have to keep it up.”