Straughn’s Katy Messick had nine strikeouts Thursday night to help lead her team to a 5-0 win over the visiting Charles Henderson Lady Trojans.

Messick pitched the entire game and gave up two hits and one walk.

Straughn coach Ray Wilson said he saw a better defensive effort from his team Thursday.

“We played a lot better defensively,” Wilson said. “I was glad to see that. We had a passed ball but besides that, we had a real good game in the field and that’s what we’ve got to do when we play good people.”

Wilson added the girls had a good game at the plate as well.

“We had a few clutch hits and bunted the ball real well,” he said. “We moved some runners and put them in a position to score and that was the difference in the game.”

At bat for the first time in the first inning, Messick knocked an RBI single to left field to score Stephanie Bracewell after she reached on a walk. After being walked, Bracewell got in scoring position on a single from Kaitlynn Wiggins.

After Messick’s scoring hit, Tiffany Taylor hit an RBI single to bring Wiggins home to make the score 2-0.

Wiggins later scored in the bottom of the third off an error.

The Lady Tigers (3-0) sealed the victory in the fourth inning when pinch hitter Shelley Jones hit an RBI double to score Kimberly Teel. Teel got on base with a single.

Jones later scored on a bunt from Kayla Messer.

Wilson said despite the win Thursday, there are still some mistakes that need correcting.

“We’re swinging at some bad pitches,” Wilson said. “It’s early and I understand that. We’ve got to start getting an eye for strikes and swing at better pitches.”

Straughn will travel to play in the Trojan Classic in Troy today and Saturday.

The Lady Tigers’ first game is tonight at 8 p.m. against Beulah. The Saturday game is against Kinston.