NATCHEZ — The Natchez High School Bulldogs were able to get some hits at Chester Willis field against McComb High School Friday, but they just couldn’t convert those hits into runs.

The Bulldogs were blown out 12-1 in five innings, allowing seven hits though they were able to tally five hits as well.

Shavoke Herington took the loss for the Bulldogs, pitching two innings with one strikeout and nine runs before Jeremy Myles stepped on to the mound in the top of the third inning.

Natchez High scored early in the first inning with a double by Jarell Morris that sent Herrington home, but it would be the only time the Bulldogs touched home plate.

Natchez head coach Brian Kossum said the defense came up short handed in the Bulldogs’ performance, as they were down 12-1 in the top of the 4th inning.

“Defense definitely let us down (Friday),” Kossum said. “The errors (we had) led to a lot of runs for McComb, at least seven or eight of them.

“The errors in the first inning kind of took everything away from us. It’s like if we get hit in the mouth, we’re just laying down. We need to get back to the mentality to keep battling.”

Natchez had two opportunities to score thereafter, with the first coming in the bottom of the fourth inning when Kevontaye Caston stepped to the plate with Cortez Adams on third base and Quincy Henderson on first.

But Caston was struck out by McComb pitcher Henry McDonald. McDonald tallied eight strikeouts in five innings.

Jarrel Morris pitched the top of the fifth inning and held McComb to 12 to give Natchez one more chance to extend the game beyond the fifth inning. MHSAA rules stop baseball games if a team is down by 10 or more runs at the end of the fifth inning.

Tydarrius Terrell gave Natchez that chance in the bottom of the fifth as he hit a single and multiple errors allowed Terrell to steal consecutive bases before sliding home.

Terrell, however, was called out as he slid in.

Kossum said he gave Terrell the green light to go for home plate.

“I made a mistake, you never make your first out at home,” Kossum said. “(Terrell) is a speed guy, and I didn’t think (McComb) had a prayer catching him, but they got him.”

The Bulldogs head to Wingfield High School Monday then prepare for the playoffs, which start Thursday.