NATCHEZ — Instead of Natchez High School having to travel today for Game 2 of its playoffs series against George County High School, the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Rebels agreed to play Games 1 and 2 back-to-back.

The decision was reached after the Lady Bulldogs were blown out 18-0 in just two innings in Game 1. With rain in the forecast today, the Lady Bulldogs coaching staff wanted to go ahead and get Game 2 over with, NHS head coach ShaRhonda Welch said.

“We would have had to pay for gas and food, and we would have had to leave at 5:30 in the morning,” Welch said. “With the chance of rain, we really didn’t want to take any chances. It saved us a whole bunch of money.”

The second game saw similar results, with NHS losing 18-2, ending the Lady Bulldogs’ season with a 3-13 record.

“My pitcher did her job today,” Welch said after the second game. “She pitched and put the ball into play. The defense let her down.”

Game 1

Things went south for the Lady Bulldogs quickly, as George County tallied 10 runs in the top of the first inning. A throwing error by Kayla Gilmore scored Shelby Carter and Presley Berry.

A sacrifice fly sent home Julianna Rouse, and Chaisley Sargent scored on a double by Brittany Cooley. Back-to-back singles by Cayla Bradley and Paige Johnson sent home two more Lady Rebel runners, and Paige Johnson and Ashton Johnson scored on a single by Rouse.

A double by Sargent scored the final two runners of the inning.

George County starter Kaytelin Taylor went just one inning for the Lady Rebels, tallying one strikeout, to get the win. The top of the second inning was more of the same for NHS, as George County added eight more runs to their total.

Nicole Langley and Savannah Backus both had RBI singles, and Langley then scored on a sacrifice fly. A single by Ivey Brewer netted two more runs, and Caroline Bradley came home on a single by Lana Poole.

Taylor singled in Brewer, and a bases-loaded walk by Destinie Tatum sent Poole home, giving the Lady Rebels an 18-0 lead.

Reliever Chasity Shepherd took over in the bottom of the second, striking out three batters, to close the game for George County. The game was called after the second inning.

NHS starter Michaela Hutchins took the loss, giving up 18 runs on 25 hits.

Game 2

Jasmine Ivory, Orianna Howell and Hutchins each pitched an inning, with Howell taking the loss for the Lady Bulldogs.

George County actually trailed 2-1 after the first inning, but the Lady Rebels scored 10 runs in the second and seven in the third. Ivory got the start, with Howell pitching the second inning and Hutchins taking over in the third.

Bradley went 4-for-4 for George County in Game 2 with a triple, while Berry and Cooley both tripled for the Lady Rebels.

Despite the disappointing finish, Welch said she saw some improvement in her players this year.

“We’re a young team, and it’s hard to build without a fast-pitch summer league,” Welch said. “They do offer fast-pitch in the summer, usually there aren’t enough girls that sign up.

“I can say they did improve in some areas, but we still have a lot of work to do.”