VIDALIA — The Vidalia 16-and-under Seniors All-Stars softball team’s defense helped them advance to the second round of the Senior League Southwestern Region Softball tournament Friday.

Vidalia took on the Colorado Seniors at the Concordia Recreation District 3 Complex and allowed four hits to Vidalia’s eight to win 6-0.

Vidalia head coach Micah Hughes said his team’s defense was superb Friday.

“We played great defense, and our pitching was good,” he said. “To win the whole thing, we have to hit the ball better.”

Though eight hits didn’t satisfy Hughes, Karlee Woodruff’s performance did.

She stepped up to the plate fifth for Vidalia and got them on the board early.

In the top of the first, she tripled to right field to RBI for Kelsey Bradford and Emilee Howard.

“She had some big hits for us, some key hits with two triples,” Hughes said.

Up 2-0, Vidalia played solid defense that didn’t allow any runs in the first two innings.

In the top of the third, it was more of the same for Woodruff as she made her second appearance at the plate and tripled to the same spot. This time she brought in just Howard.

As Vidalia kept up their solid defense through the bottom of the third and the fourth inning, they saw another run in Savannah McGuffee’s double in the top of the fifth.

It was McGuffee first hit of the night, but she made it count as she led in both Howard and Nikki Harbor to extend the lead, 5-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Vidalia brought in Shelby Nolker for Paige Bryan at the mound, but that didn’t change their defensive efforts as Colorado remained scoreless coming into the sixth inning. Vidalia saw one more run in Nolker who ran home on a sacrifice hit from Howard, who was tagged out at first base.

The score remained 6-0 as Taylor Rodgers came in as pitcher for the final at bat for Colorado.

Rodgers ended the game with Vidalia’s only strikeout to advance in the winner’s bracket.

Hughes said they have to continue their cutthroat defense in the tournament if they want to be successful.

“They just have to stay focused and keep playing like the played,” Hughes said. “Maybe the nerves will be better tomorrow and hopefully they’ll be more relaxed.”

The Vidalia Seniors will take on New Mexico at 8 p.m. today in hopes to advance to the third round on Sunday.