NATCHEZ — Tough defense would accurately summarize Adams County Christian School’s softball game against Silliman Institute Monday.

The Lady Rebels held their own against the top-ranked team in Class A, but they couldn’t get over the hump in a 1-0 loss.

ACCS assistant coach Rick Fife said his girls gave a great defensive effort.

“It was a defensive game,” he said. “Both pitchers did well. Offensively, we were hitting at them. We made great contact, we just hit into bad luck zones.”

Ashleigh Williams was the only player for the Lady Rebels to have multiple hits and a double as she went 2-for-3.

For Silliman, Callie Venable was their only multiple-hit player as she also went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI.

Silliman’s pitcher Kennedy Carruth had seven strikeouts on the game.

Solid defense kept both teams scoreless going into the sixth inning. The first batter on base was ACCS’s Makenzie Landers in the second inning, but that’s all of the action either team saw the fourth inning.

In the fourth, Silliman got a player on base in Callie Venable double to midfield, and then got as far as third base on a sacrifice fly ball.

Mary Morris tried to bunt and get Silliman on the scoreboard but Venable was caught trying to slide home by Michaela Ashley.

The Lady Rebel’s Ashleigh Williams doubled in the bottom of the fourth but it was all the action ACCS would get in the inning.

Williams played sound defense at the first baseman position as she recorded two outs in catches across field thrown by Jordan Petty to keep the game scoreless well into the fifth.

But ACCS couldn’t keep their defense consistent in the sixth inning when Venable singled to bring in Brooke Wattsfor the only score of the game.

The Lady Rebels tried to retaliate in the bottom of the sixth when Petty, Williams and Taylor Perkins all singled consecutively and respectively.

With the bases loaded, ACCS had the chance to tie the game or even take the lead with Makenzie Landers stepping up to the plate.

Landers got a hit but it headed straight for the pitcher who prevented Petty from scoring at home before passing to tag Landers out at first base.

Fife said things didn’t go as planned in the sixth inning.

“We were looking for at least a sacrifice fly, but unfortunately we ran into a double play,” he said.

The Lady Rebels still had the seventh inning to rally back but couldn’t get it to go with three straight outs to end the game with a 1-0 loss.

“We made contact in the seventh inning, we just couldn’t find the holes,” Fife said.

Despite taking a loss, Fife said the game was a giant stepping stone for them.

“It was a tough game,” he said. “But I think it built their confidence to stay with this team that is highly ranked.”

After a winless weekend at the Co-Lin softball tournament, Fife said he was happy to see his girls still give a great effort.

“We’re very proud of the girls tonight,” he said. “The way they battled after having a tough weekend was great.”

ACCS returns to action today against Prentiss Christian with junior varsity playing at 4 p.m. and varsity following immediately after.