The Natchez Bulldogs survived a close game against Jim Hill, as they came back from blowing a three run lead to win 8-6 at Chester Willis Field Friday night.

The Bulldogs (11-8) scored one run in the first and three runs in the second to take a 4-1 lead over the Tigers. But Jim Hill (6-8, 2-3) slowly battled back by retiring the Bulldogs’ side with three straight pick offs in the fourth inning, and managed to tie the game in the top of the fifth and take a one-run 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth on a pass ball by Travis Isaac.

“We made a lot of mental mistakes, and we were not focused on our base running,” Natchez head coach Charlie Williams said.

But the Bulldogs turned things around in the bottom of the sixth inning by capitalizing on multiple throwing errors by the Tigers, and scored four runs off one hit to regain the lead. The Tigers scored one run in the top of the seventh, but failed to rally and came up short.

“We didn’t take advantage of opportunities when we had them,” Jim Hill head coach Greg Wilson said. “Natchez did and hit the ball when they needed to.”

Williams said the Tigers’ errors were the key to the game for the Bulldogs.

“Their errors got us out of the hole,” he said.

Williams added his team was fortunate to capitalize on those errors, and said his team is still struggling at he plate.

“We are not hitting the ball the way we should at this point in the season,” he said.

The Bulldogs had a total of four hits in the game, while the Tigers managed to collect eight hits in the losing effort.

Daniel Murry, who picked off three runners, took the loss for the Tigers on the mound. Thomas Hughes, who replaced Isaac in the top of the sixth inning, picked up the win for the Bulldogs.

“It was an ugly win, but we will take it,” Williams said. With the win the win, the Bulldogs tie Forrest Hill at 5-1 in district play. Williams said with one game left against Forrest Hill, the outcome could determine who finishes first in the district.

Natchez will travel to take on Lawrence County today at 11 a.m., before they prepare to take on Forrest Hill.

Jim Hill will have a short period to bounce back, as they are slated to face Yazoo County at Battlefield Park in Jackson today at 10 a.m.

“We’re a young team, but we are coming around,” Wilson said.