HAZLEHURST — There is for now a three-team battle in Region 8-3A after the Hazlehurst Lady Indians rallied from an early deficit to stun the Franklin County Lady Bulldogs 5-4 Tuesday afternoon.

Franklin County (11-5) could not hold on to a 4-2 lead after two innings of play as Keyora Shannon hit an run-scoring triple in the bottom of the third inning and winning pitcher Kia Rockingham helped her own cause in a big way by hitting what turned out to be the game-winning, two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning.

It was also a rough outing for Lady Bulldogs pitcher Mildred Starks, who gave up 14 hits in six innings.

“They hit their spots. I think Mildred did the best she could do,” Franklin County head coach Dana Smith said. “Defensively, we were pretty well matched. That’s probably the most hits we’ve given up all year.”

The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when KeKe Collins hit a one-out single and Allison Hauer followed that up with a two-run home run.

Led by Marge Anderson’s RBI double, Hazlehurst tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first — but that lead would not last long.

Vintrice Briggs and Morgan Knapp each singled and Kenyatta Hunt walked to load the bases with nobody outs. Then with one out, Katie Forman singled to score Briggs, but Knapp was forced out for the second out of the inning. And that eventually proved to be crucial as Kacey Smith singed to bring in Hunt to give Franklin County a 4-2 lead.

“We just didn’t hit to our potential,” coach Smith said. “That’s the biggest difference.”

Hauer and Smith each went 2-for-3 to lead the Lady Bulldogs, who for the first time in several games had fewer hits than their opposition — 10 for them to 14 for the Lady Indians.

Anderson, Shannon, Jasmine James and Deanna Rogers all were 2-for-3 for Hazlehurst, which moved into a tie for second place with Franklin County in region play at 1-1. Wilkinson County went into its region game at West Marion Tuesday afternoon with a 1-0 record.

Franklin County hosts Wilkinson County for a region doubleheader Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m.