The Cathedral High School softball team scored five runs in the first inning and hung on to defeat the Natchez High School Lady Bulldogs 8-3 Tuesday night.

Cathedral scored the first five runs with two outs.

After Leighton McDaniel grounded into a fielder’s choice and Krystal Groom reached on an error, Green Wave first baseman Jessica Barrett roped a triple and brought in the first two runs of the game.

Alana Bedson knocked Barrett in at the next at bat with a single. Tori Blackwell brought Bedson home with a single and Blackwell scored after a Lady Bulldog error.

Lady Bulldog coach Sue Johnson said the key to the game was Cathedral’s hitting.

&uot;They hit the ball well,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;They out-hit us and we made some mistakes. We’re just not hitting the ball.&uot;

Cathedral coach Lynn Ogden said staying focused is important for her team’s victories.

&uot;You’re gonna have some calls go against you and some calls you don’t agree with,&uot; Ogden said. &uot;You have to retain your focus.&uot;

Ogden said the team lost focus late in the game when the Lady Bulldogs scored their three runs.

Natchez’s first run came after Mable Green got an infield single.

Green was knocked in by Miracle Calcote who caused some confusion by taking extra bases before being tagged out at home.

Natchez got two more runs in the sixth inning when Rosetta Ikard got an infield hit and later scored on a single from Deanna Butts.

Butts scored after Crystal Sylvester’s second infield hit of the game.

Cathedral got two of its last three runs in the third inning.

Bedson doubled Barrett home and a Laura Huffins sacrifice scored Bedson.

Cathedral’s final run came when a Cassie Brantley sacrifice scored Kati Hinton.

Barrett was 2-3 at the plate for Cathedral, scoring twice and adding two RBI. Bedson was also 2-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.Lead-off hitter Kate Reid was 3-4 with with a triple.

Green Wave pitcher Amber Green pitched a complete game for her second win of the season. Green allowed three runs on seven hits and had four strikeouts. She also stranded seven runners.

For Natchez, Chrystal Sylvester was 3-3 with 1 RBI, and Mable Green was 2-3 and scored one run.

Natchez Pitcher Dalisa Lewis allowed eight runs on 10 hits and stranded five runners.