NATCHEZ — When Brookhaven Academy tallied four runs in the top of the first inning to start its District 5-AA contest against Adams County Christian School, ACCS head coach Forrest Foster told his team it was just the beginning of the roller-coaster that would lead his Lady Rebels to their first district win of the season.

“I knew it was going to be a battle,” Foster said. “When they scored four in the first I (told the girls), ‘this is going to be a slugfest. It’s going to be who’s going to hit the ball that wins.’ And everybody on the team made a spectacular play tonight.”

Foster was right about the game being a “slugfest”, and the Lady Rebels were able to outslug Brookhaven to grab a 14-9 win.

ACCS answered Brookhaven’s first inning flurry with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first to bring the score to 4-2.

That score would stand until the bottom of the third when the Lady Rebels got hot at the plate and scored eight runs on four hits, including a bases-loaded triple by Abby Givens. Catcher Tory Laird added two hits in the inning, as the Lady Rebels sent 12 batters to the plate.

But Brookhaven would not go away quietly. The Lady Cougars scored five runs to cut the ACCS lead to one in the top of the fourth inning.

Brookhaven’s five runs came on two hits, four walks and two errors.

The Lady Rebels again answered the Brookhaven rally in the bottom half of the inning. ACCS scored three runs behind Sage Atkins’ two-run single that drove in Braxtyn Elveston and Blair Vanderslice. Atkins would later score on a double by Ashton Mason to give ACCS a 13-9 lead.

ACCS pitcher Brooke Runnels forced Brookhaven into a three up, three down in the top of the fifth, and the game was called due to the time limit after ACCS pushed one more run across in the bottom of the fifth.

Foster said on top of giving ACCS its first district win, the victory gives his team confidence.

“This is a big motivation to them, because they know they can play with anybody in the district,” he said. “The girls realize they can beat anybody we play, they just have to compete every inning.”

Foster said a major key to his team’s success Tuesday night was the performance of Runnels in the circle.

“Our pitching has really improved over the last three weeks,” he said.

Foster said Runnels, a freshman, is gaining confidence as the season progresses.

Tuesday’s win marked the second time in as many nights that the Lady Rebels came from behind to win a game, and Foster said his team’s resiliency is helping to build confidence.

“You have to have self-confidence to play this game,” he said. “You have to have self-confidence in the field, on the mound and at the plate. We have a little momentum now. We came from behind last night and tonight.”

ACCS beat River Oaks 8-7 Monday.

The Lady Rebels (8-11, 1-3) will have a week off before they host Trinity Episcopal in another District 5-AA match up Sept. 6.