If you live by the bats, you sometimes die by the bats.

The Natchez High Bulldogs learned that lesson Saturday afternoon as they fell behind early and were never able to recover in a 12-3 loss to Hollandale Simmons.

The Bulldogs (10-7), who have won several shootouts this season, were simply unable to match the Blue Devils’ power.

A six-run second inning for Simmons would prove to be the difference.

After Bulldog pitcher Thomas Hughes retired the first batter of the inning, six straight Blue Devils reached base and would eventually score, highlighted by a two-run single by Terrance Washington that opened the floodgates.

The Blue Devils (15-1) also won the game on the basepaths, stealing six bases on the day.

“One of our main team concepts is speed,” Simmons head coach Mark Beechem said. “We’ve got a pretty fast ball club, and we take advantage of that when we get the opportunity.”

Natchez High head coach Charlie Williams said the fact that his team was playing its third game in less than 20 hours had little effect on the outcome.

“I’m not going to make excuses,” he said. “We were outplayed. They were more aggressive at the plate than us. I’m not one to like making excuses. They just wanted it more than us.”

The Blue Devils took a 3-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI double from Angelo Boykins, an RBI single by Wshington and an error.

Natchez High was able to answer in the bottom half of the inning, however, as Desmond Smoot and Edward Johnson led off with singles. Cameron Logan doubled to score both runners, and he then scored on a passed ball.

Little else would go right on the offensive end for the Bulldogs, as Blue Devil pitcher Washington settled in and plowed through the remainder of the line-up, surrendering only one hit the rest of the way.

Washington took the win, going all five innings. Hughes took the loss in a tough effort for the Bulldogs.

“(Pitching and defense is) something we’ve been working on all season,” Williams said. “We’ve had a few injuries. It’s making me change the lineup a little bit. We’re going to make some changes and see if we can get things turned around.”

Natchez High 6, South Pike 3

In the first of three games on the day, a five-run third inning was enough to propel the Bulldogs to a victory over the Eagles of South Pike.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Bulldogs tied the game in the second and then exploded in the third to take a lead they would never relinquish.

Melvin Davis took the win on the mound for Natchez High, and Henry Green took the loss for the Eagles.

Thomas Hughes had a double, and Kendall Logan batted 2-for-3 in the game.