PETAL — Starting pitcher Javon Washington gave a good effort Friday, but Natchez High School couldn’t produce any runs against Petal in the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs.

Washington gave up three unearned runs in seven innings pitched but took the loss in game one of a best-of-three series against Petal.

The Bulldogs actually out-hit Petal 3-2, but Petal put up one run in the third, fourth and fifth innings, while NHS managed just a solo home run by Davion Ward.

“We just didn’t hit the ball well enough,” head coach Charlie Williams said.

“Defense wasn’t our downfall, even though we made six errors, and their only runs came off errors. We just didn’t hit the ball, and we didn’t get the calls on the bases.”

And Williams didn’t seem too thrilled about the officiating in game one.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Petal, because they played well also,” he said. “But we didn’t get any help at all, and they got some help.”

NHS (14-9) will host game two at 2 p.m. today. If necessary, game three will immediately follow game two. The Bulldogs’ season is over if they lose today.