NATCHEZ — After a shaky first two innings, Thomas Garrity pitched five strong innings and that helped the Cathedral Green Wave rally to defeat the Franklin County Bulldogs, 11-7 Tuesday night.

Cathedral head coach Craig Beesley said he was concerned about his team’s mental focus and how it would respond after Franklin County scored one run in the top of the first inning and four in the top of the second.

He got his answer perhaps quicker than even he probably expected.

“We were down five early. They came back in the bottom of the second and scored four. I was glad to see us come back after getting down early,” Beesley said. “We struggled the last week and a half. We lost our last four games.”

Garrity settled down after the Green Wave got back in the game and allowed just two runs in the final five innings. Those two runs occurred in the top of the fourth that gave the Bulldogs a 7-4 lead. But once again Cathedral rallied, this time to take the lead after plating six runs in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 10-7.

“Thomas found his rhythm in the third and he pitched well from the third through the seventh,” Beesley said.

Garrity went the distance and allowed seven runs, five earned, on seven hits and three walks to go with eight strikeouts.

Ethan Verduin took the loss after allowing nine runs, five earned, on just three hits but also six walks and he struck out three. Kade Clanton relieved Verduin and gave up two runs, both earned, on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Cathedral scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Zach Flattman went 2-for-2 and Peyton Jenkins was 2-for-3.

Franklin County was led by Hoby Mullins, who went 3-for-4 with a triple. Caleb Fairley had a double for the Bulldogs.

Cathedral (12-8) next plays at 7 p.m. Friday at South Pike. Franklin County (12-7) has a 1 p.m. game on Saturday at home against Lawrence County.