MONTICELLO-The Lawrence County Cougars defeated the Vicksburg Gators 11-5 in high school baseball action Saturday afternoon at Jimmie Davis Park. The Cougars put together a 6-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, breaking a 5-5 tie and securing Lawrence County’s eighth win of the season.

With the victory, Cory Keyes’ Cougars improved to 8-8 overall, and LCHS stands at 2-4 in Region 7-4A play, entering this week’s 2-game region series with Columbia. Vicksburg, coached by Ryan Grey, fell to 7-12 on the season.

“We had a decent day,” Keyes said. “It was a win we desperately needed. We made a lot of good contact, and Will Jack (Jackson) threw strikes and gave us a chance.”

Freshman right-fielder T-Tez Cole had a big day for Lawrence County, going 3-for-4, with a home run, a double, and 3 RBIs. Cole also scored 3 runs. Second baseman Kody Smith also had 3 hits and 3 runs batted in.

Cole’s leadoff homer handed the Cougars a 1-0 first-inning lead. Vicksburg answered with 3 in the top of the third, as third baseman Gabe Bufkin had a key 2-out, 2-run single. LCHS responded with 4 of its own in the bottom of the inning, as Smith and Kewaun May had run-scoring singles. The Cougars led 5-3 after 3 innings.

A 2-run single by Vicksburg’s Jekori Reed knotted the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth. It stayed that way until Lawrence County’s big rally in the bottom of the sixth. Jordan McCaffrey started the rally with a leadoff single. Cole added a 2-run double. Smith drove in 2 more with his third single of the day, and May had a run-scoring sacrifice fly.

Jackson worked 6 quality innings, scattering 8 hits and striking out 3. Smith pitched the seventh, giving up a single, and striking out the side.

Patrick Little added 2 hits for the Cougars. Jackson, May, McCaffrey and catcher Cade Turner each had 1.

Bufkin, Tyler Smith and Darius Kendrick each had 2 hits for the Gators. Reed, John Plummer and Taylor Hollowell also hit safely.

` Lawrence County won 8-2 in junior varsity play. Joshua Stephens pitched 5 strong innings, striking out 8. Stephens, Gabriel Lewis, Hayden Davis and Carter Hall hit safely for the Cougar jayvees.