NATCHEZ — After Cathedral scored seven runs in the bottom of the second inning, it appeared like the Green Wave was well on its way to an easy win over the Vicksburg Gators Saturday afternoon.

That was until Gabe Bufkin came on in relief for Vicksburg and kept Cathedral’s batters off balance. And that allowed the Gators to rally for an 11-8 victory over the Green Wave at Chester Willis Field.

In his two and two-thirds innings on the mound, Bufkin allowed just one run on four hits and one walk to go with one strikeout and wound up the winning pitcher after Vicksburg scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning to grab an 11-7 lead. The one run Bufkin gave up was in the bottom of the fifth.

Vicksburg scored its first run of the game in the top of the first inning before Cathedral rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the second. The Gators started their comeback with three runs in the top of the third inning and then added three more runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 7-7 ball game.

Hayden Nunnery took the loss for Cathedral as he allowed seven runs, three earned, on nine hits and three walks in two and two-thirds innings. He came on in relief for starting pitcher Austin Chauvin, who gave up four runs, all earned, on three hits and four walks to go with two strikeouts in two and one-third innings.

Zach Flattmann went 3-for-3 with a double and Nunnery had a triple to lead the Green Wave at the plate. Bufkin helped his cause by going 2-for-3 and Marc Grace was 2-for-3 with a double.

Vicksburg 13, Natchez High 2

NATCHEZ — In the first game of the day Saturday at Chester Willis Field, Vicksburg’s Jekori Reed had a big game both on the mound and at the plate in helping the Gators defeat the Natchez High Bulldogs in five innings.

Reed went the distance and gave up two runs, both earned, on five hits with nine strikeouts and just one walk. He also went 2-for-4 with a double. One of the hits he gave up was a solo home run by Derrian Johnson in the bottom of the first inning that tied the game at 1-1. Travez Lyles went 2-for-2 with a double.

It was all Vicksburg after that. The Gators scored seven straight runs over the next three innings before the Bulldogs got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning to trail 8-2. The Gators scored five runs in the top of the fifth for a 13-2 lead, and Reed pitched a scoreless frame in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early on the 10-runs-after-five-innings mercy rule.

Bulldogs head coach Brian Kossum ended up using three pitchers in the game. Starter Dalvion Jackson took the loss after giving up eight runs on six hits, three walks and one hit batter in three-plus innings. Jadarrius Williams allowed two runs on five hits with one strikeout and one walk in one and one-third innings. Joseph Russell went two-thirds of an inning and gave up three runs on one hit and two walks.

Buckeye 15, Block 1

JONESVILLE — Dennis Clay pitched five effective innings and Buckeye took advantage of eight Block errors as the Buckeyes rolled past the Bears in five innings Saturday afternoon.

Clay went all five innings and held Block to just one run on two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. The one run he allowed was a solo home run by Brady Bean in the bottom of the second inning. But that was after the Panthers already had a 4-0 lead.

Trent Coldiron and Jacob Fanning combined to hold Buckeye to just six hits, but the Panthers got plenty of help from the Bears’ defense. Even though he was charged with the loss, Coldiron allowed just four runs on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts in two innings. Fanning gave up 11 runs on four hits, six walks and one hit batter.

Buckeye scored four runs in the top of the third and seven runs in the top of the fifth to enact the 10-runs-after-five mercy rule. Austin Edwards went 2-for-4 with a double and Chase Mabon had a double for the Panthers.

Block (7-13) next plays at 4 p.m. Monday for a home game against LaSalle.