NATCHEZ — With the season on the line for Trinity Episcopal, Matt Barnes came through in a big way both on the mound and at the plate as the Saints defeated the Glenbrook Apaches 10-0 in five innings Thursday night at Chester Willis Field.

“Big win. For some reason, for the entire second half of the season, they’ve had their backs against the walls and found a way to battle back,” Trinity head coach Matt Mason said.

After being unable to score off Hunter Leppert, Glenbrook’s second pitcher of the game, Trinity held a 6-0 lead. Then in the bottom of the fifth, Leppert couldn’t find the strike zone.

Barnes struck out five and gave up just two hits — both by Michael Ratcliff and walked only one in five innings. He also got out a recent slump at the plate by going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.

“I get my performance from my defense,” Barnes said. “They hit the ball and the defense was there to make the plays.”

Jeremy Waldrop led the Saints’ half of the fifth with a walk and moved to third on a single by Blain Misita. Taylor Hinson then walked to load the bases with nobody out. Kent King singled in Waldrop and the bases were still loaded.

With runners on first and second, Jordan Dossett walked and again the bases were loaded. Parker Brumfield walked to score King and Matthew Freeman ended the game with a two-run single in which a ground ball took a bad hop and shortstop Geoff Lary was unable to make a play on it.

“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to come back for the sixth (inning),” Barnes said.

In the bottom of the fourth, Barnes tried to beat out a ground ball by sliding head first into first base and ended up with a bloody nose. But that didn’t slow Barnes at all when got on the mound in the top of the fifth.

“They played extremely well and we didn’t,” Glenbrook head coach Don King said. “They’re very aggressive and very well-coached. They got that lead early and were able to do some things. They were aggressive on the bases and kept us on our heels.”

The Saints stole five bases, including a double steal in the bottom of the third inning. King stole second and Hinson stole home to score, which gave them a 6-0 lead.