A third-inning defensive collapse that allowed nine runs caused the Natchez Lady Bulldogs to lose a key district match-up with the Warren Central Lady Vikings 12-5 Saturday at the Natchez Girls Softball Complex.

Natchez drew first blood in the first inning, as Deanna Butts and Kelly Fuller scored on an error.

The Lady&160;Vikes answered back in the third, though, combining well-timed hits with ill-timed Natchez errors to make the score 9-2 in their favor.

A Heather Barnes ground-rule double kicked off the inning when a long ball to right field left the park under the fence, and Heather Garrard and Shemika Carson hits then loaded the bases. The bases didn’t stay that way for long, however, as Marilyn Landers ripped a ball down the left side for a triple and three RBI.

Warren Central batted the cycle before Garrard popped out to end the inning. Natchez added two runs in the fifth, as a Lady Vikings error allowed one run, and a Fuller sacrifice scored another.

The Lady Bulldogs’ seventh-inning rally was held to one run. Green’s deep hit to left with one out was good for an RBI, but Fuller then popped out to center and a quick throw to second tagged out Green for the final out of the game.

Green played a fine game defensively on third base. She ended the top of the second inning by making two consecutive catches and stranding runners on second and third.

Green was also 2-2 at the plate with an RBI. Fuller batted 2-2 with an RBI, as well.

Natchez’s record falls to 8-4 overall and 4-1 in district play with the loss. The Lady Bulldogs play at Jim Hill Tuesday in a non-district game.

The Natchez Junior-Varsity squad fared better against Warren Central, winning the game 12-6.