Trinity Episcopal’s baseball team scored one run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth for a 9-6 win over Plain Dealing Tuesday at Trinity to take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-3 MPSA Class A first round playoff series.

&uot;It’s good to get that first game,&uot; said Trinity coach David King.

The second game will be played at Plain Dealing Thursday at 1:30 p.m. If Plain Dealing wins that game, a deciding game will follow.

&uot;There’s no question the pressure is on them,&uot; King said. &uot;They used all three of their aces and William (McGehee) went the whole way for us, which leaves us Hunter (Dale) and Elliot Meng).&uot;

McGehee gave up two earned runs and 10 hits (all singles), striking out three and walking four.

McGehee also had a solid game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs batted in.

&uot;William pitched well enough to win by a bigger margin of victory, but I think we came out a little tight,&uot; King said. &uot;We had a couple of breakdowns early.&uot;

Plain Dealing (16-5) scored one run in the top of the first inning when Josh Jorgenson was hit by a pitch, went to second on a Joseph McCalman sacrifice bunt, and scored on a Dane Driskell single.

Trinity, 16-7, answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Dale walked and went to third on a Cole Brown single.

McGehee doubled to bring in both runners. Courtesy runner Ryan Rachal scored on a Gregory Ketchings single to chase Jake Howell, who only lasted a third of an inning.

Losing pitcher Ryan Kesterson came in and walked Hill Pollard to load the bases and kept the Saints from scoring.

The Bulldogs scored another run in the top of the second when Trent Branstetta was hit by a pitch, went to third on a John Grisham single and scored on a McCalman single.

The Saints then scored two runs in the bottom of the second as Dale reached first on a McCalman error, stole second and went to third on a McGehee double.

Walt Ketchings tripled to bring in Dale and McGehee.

Ketchings went 2-for-3 with the triple and two RBIs. Dale went 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs.

&uot;We’ve seen some good pitching the last couple of weeks and have not been able to put the ball in play,&uot; King said. &uot;But the kids did a good job of putting it in play today and making things happen.&uot;

Plain Dealing scored one run in the top of the third when Wesley Green singled, moved to second on a Jeff Lyles single, third on a Branstetta catcher’s interference and scored on a Grisham single.

Trinity got back that run in the bottom of the third when Pollard walked, moved to third on another error by McCalman and scored on a fielder’s choice by Dale.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the fourth for a 6-6 score.

Driskell hit a one-out single, went to second on a Kesterson walk and later scored on a Trinity error that enabled Green to go to second.

A courtesy runner came in for Kesterson and also scored on the error.

Green went to third and scored on consecutive passed balls by McGehee.

McGehee retired the side in the fifth and allowed only one hit in the sixth.

It was also the fifth inning when Trinity retook the lead for good.

Pollard reached first on a fielder’s choice, went to second on a Bulldogs error and scored on a Dale single.

Trinity added two more runs in the sixth. After McGehee singled, Rachal stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on another error by McCalman.

Elliot Meng walked, went to second on a Gregory Ketchings groundout and scored on a Chase Brown single.

Plain Dealing would not go away quietly as Jake Howell hit a lead-off single.

Two outs later, Jorgenson singled and the Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game again.

However, McCalman hit a high foul ball that third baseman Wes Middleton caught near the fence for the final out.

Kesterson gave up four runs and four hits in relief, struck out five and walked four in 4 2/3 innings.