NATCHEZ &045; Cathedral was a very generous host to Lawrence County Tuesday in Natchez.

The Lady Wave committed four errors in a four-run Cougar first en route to a 6-2 loss for its first defeat of the season.

With one out in the top of the inning, Lawrence County got three straight hits to take a quick 2-0 lead. They needed just one more hit to get the next two.

Cathedral coach Gary Blackwell said he hopes this is a wakeup call for his previously unbeaten team.

&uot;We came out flat,&uot; he said. &uot;The errors (in the first) killed us. After that, we stayed with them but didn’t hit.&uot;

The Lady Wave three times got the leadoff hitter on base but couldn’t get the run across. They scored their first run in the fifth when Jennie Allen singled in Anna Huffines, who had tripled with one out.

The rally ended there, however, when Huffines was doubled up on Brandi McGraw’s line drive to short.

The run cut the deficit to 5-1, and Cathedral (2-1) had its defense to thank for still being in the game. Caitlin Huffines and Kalin Kirkwood both made nice plays in left and at second, respectively, to help settle their team.

Lawrence County (2-1) coach Tarvey Ward credited Cathedral with picking up its level of play.

&uot;They made the routine outs and the hard outs,&uot; he said. &uot;They deserve a lot of credit for hanging in there.&uot;

Ward’s team did pretty well defensively. The Cougars committed no errors and robbed Cathedral of several hits.

Leading the defensive charge for Lawrence County was shortstop Emily Smith. The senior started the double play that ended the Lady Wave fifth and was a part of all three outs in the sixth, two on scorching line drives that she went up to get.

Smith, who has started at short in every game of her four years, also drove in two runs on 3-4 hitting. Her triple in the fifth &045; a line drive that bounced to the fence &045;drove in Lawrence County’s final run. Like all good hitters, Smith has a plan when she steps to the plate.

&uot;I just try to go with my pitch,&uot; she said. &uot;I like flat pitches a little bit outside.&uot;

The Lady Wave broke out of its hitting slump in the seventh, getting the tying run to the plate before falling.

Claire Kenda led off with a single. Megan Whittlington followed Elizabeth Blackwell’s one-out single with an RBI-single, cutting the lead to 6-2.

Anna Huffines had her second hit of the game, an infield single, which loaded the bases, still with one out.

A swinging bunt was fielded by Cougar catcher Brittney Collins, who beat a charging Blackwell to the plate for the second out.

A pop fly to third ended the game.

Blackwell said he wasn’t surprised his team didn’t give up.

&uot;We had a chance to tie but didn’t come through,&uot; he said. &uot;One thing I can say is that they keep a good attitude and they are not quitters.&uot;