NATCHEZ — It turns out the Trinity Episcopal Lady Saints will not have to travel to Lake Providence, La., for their final regular-season game against the Briarfield Academy Lady Rebels this afternoon.

Instead, the two teams wound up taking on each other for the only time this season Monday afternoon at the Natchez-Adams Girls Softball Complex with not only the MAIS District 6-A championship on the line, but also the district’s top two seeds for upcoming the Class A South State Tournament.

And while the Lady Saints didn’t score as many runs as they had during their five-game winning streak, they still ended up extending their streak to six in a row with a 9-4 win over the Lady Rebels Monday afternoon on Senior Night and in the process captured the district title.

“I was very proud of us finishing district undefeated. The girls played very well tonight and finished strong,” Trinity head coach Chris Hutchins said. With the win, the Lady Saints improved to 9-6 overall and finished district play with a 5-0 record.

However, their final obstacle to get through en route to the district title wasn’t easy to begin with. Briarfield got off to a good start by scoring three runs before Trinity even went to bat.

Yet unlike their previous five games, Trinity struggled at the plate in the first couple of innings. The Lady Saints scored just one run in each of the first two innings and was trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the third inning.

In the bottom of the first inning, Randa Morace singled scored on a triple by Katie Steele. Then in the bottom of the second, Mallory Lancaster reached on a bunt, stole second base, went to third on a bunt by Christina Givens and scored on a fielder’s choice by Mary Catherine Wilkerson.

Despite striking out five batters over four innings, Briarfield pitcher Frantom (no first name given) struggled in the latter innings finding the strike zone and ended up walking six batters

“Briarfield played well early on. They threw well, they hit the ball well and they played good defense,” Hutchins said.

Thankfully for Trinity, Steele settled down after a rough first inning and kept the Lady Rebels off the scoreboard and gave her team a chance to come back and win the ball game.

Which is exactly what ended up happening. The Lady Saints scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead for good. After Steele walked, Amelia Conn came in as a courtesy runner and scored on a triple by Ashleigh Williams. After consecutive walks to Lancaster and Cailtyn Upton, Givens bunted to bring in Williams and Lancaster stole home on a passed ball to give them a 5-3 lead.

Trinity would add four more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a steal of home by Morace, RBI singles by Steele and Julia Stevens and a bunt attempt which turned into an RBI fielder’s choice by Lancaster.

“I give a lot of credit to our three seniors, Mary Catherine Wilkerson, Julia Stevens and Sarah Bryan. They took control of the situation, settled our girls down and pulled us through to victory. It was a good way for them to respond on Senior Night,” Hutchins said.

Briarfield’s only other run was in the top of the fifth inning, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Steele allowed just four hits, struck out six and walked just two in a complete-game performance and she helped her own cause by going 2-for-3. Givens also went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Because of a recent change in the schedule, Briarfield will not be Trinity’s final opponent before the playoffs begin on Saturday, Sept. 25 after all. Instead, the Lady Saints will travel to Winnsboro, La. to take on Franklin Academy on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 5:30 p.m.