Natchez High’s varsity baseball team split a pair of games Tuesday in the McComb Tournament at McComb, coming from behind to defeat Lawrence County 3-2 in the first game and losing to host McComb 10-0 in the nightcap.

Brian Kossum gave up two earned runs on only four hits while striking out six in seven innings in picking up the win for Natchez in the afternoon game against Lawrence County.

Natchez trailed 2-0 after three innings before scoring three runs in the fourth inning. Carl Hayes led off the fourth with a single and advanced to second when Floyd Newman was hit by a pitch. Calvin Jackson then doubled to score Hayes and Newman. Brock Barlow singled to score Jackson, which ended up being the game-winning hit.

&uot;The first game we were still playing good defensively,&uot; said Natchez head coach Michael Lindsey. &uot;It was a good pitchers’ dual.&uot;

The nightcap game belonged to the host team Tigers of McComb as winning pitcher Damian Givens stymied the Bulldogs’ batters, giving up only four hits while striking out 10.

&uot;They (McComb) played a better game than we did,&uot; Lindsey said. &uot;They’ve got a big right-hander (Givens) who throws 85-86 miles per hour.&uot;

Leading 1-0 after two innings, McComb put the game out of reach by scoring six runs in the third inning.

The Tigers added three more runs in the sixth inning for the final score. Nolan Coward was the losing pitcher for Natchez, giving up five earned runs on six hits walking four and striking out only one in three innings.

Natchez, 5-2, next hosts Cathedral Friday at Chester Willis Field beginning with the junior varsity game at 3 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 5 p.m.