NATCHEZ &045; It’s simple, really. When you have 13 runners left on base, it’s hard to win. That was certainly true for Natchez High Saturday as the Bulldogs fell 16-6 to Franklin County.

&uot;We got runners in scoring position, but we couldn’t get a hit,&uot; Natchez head coach Charlie Williams said. &uot;We need to get a hit now and then and we’re not doing it.&uot;

Natchez did a pretty good job of getting runners on base. Take the case of leadoff hitter Edwin Johnson. Johnson got on base in four of his five at-bats, but scored only once. Twice he was left on base and in the seventh inning he was caught stealing.

Franklin County had no such problems, getting 16 hits and taking advantage of some Natchez miscues.

&uot;I’m proud of our guys’ effort,&uot; Franklin County head coach Johnny Davis said. &uot;They overcame a couple of mistakes and got the win.&uot;

Williams said his team was simply out-hit by Franklin County.

&uot;They outhit us today,&uot; Williams said. &uot;The defense was alright. We just had three errors that I can think of offhand, but they just outhit us.&uot;

Natchez started the game off on a high note, as C.J. Wright ripped a grounder up the middle to knock home Desmond Smoot, who had singled and then moved into scoring position with a stolen base.

But Natchez fell behind for good in the second inning, giving up five runs to Franklin County. Franklin opened the inning with five consecutive hits, including a double by Brandon Goldsmith that drove Ryan Hall and Justin Steele home.

Natchez’s best chance to get back in the game came in the fourth inning. Robert Woods got on base on a Franklin error and a pinch runner eventually scored for him. Franklin County starting pitcher Dan Griffin appeared to tire and began having control problems, walking three batters. Griffin, who got the win, pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up four hits.

But Ryan Ratcliff came in to close out the inning on the mound for Franklin County, striking out Eric Hutchins to end the inning, leaving three men on base for Natchez. Ratcliff had a good day at the plate as well, scoring three runs and driving in three.

Franklin County took advantage of two Natchez errors, a walk and a hit batsman in the fourth inning to score four runs, all unearned, and take a 9-3 lead in the third inning.

&uot;They made good on their opportunities and we didn’t,&uot; Williams said.

Seven of the final 14 Natchez at-bats ended in a strikeout, dooming the Bulldogs’ chances of making a comeback in the late innings.

Franklin County’s offensive prowess has surprised even Davis this season, though he said his team will still have to depend on defense and smart baserunning to win games this season.

&uot;I expected it to be pitching and defense,&uot; Davis said. &uot;We’ve been getting runs and games with 10 or 12 hits. We capitalized on some of their mistakes, but we’re the kind of team that has to take advantage of our feet.&uot;

Natchez was forced to use three pitchers, Robert Perry, Woods and Johnson, who started the game at shortstop before coming in to relieve Woods. Natchez has already been stretched a bit thin in its pitching, but Williams said he should have at least one pitcher ready to go for the team’s district opener against Vicksburg Tuesday.

&uot;Our pitching wasn’t bad today,&uot; Williams said. &uot;We had to use three of them, but hopefully one or two of them will be ready to throw by Tuesday. We won’t do anything in practice that will make their arms sore.&uot;