Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s softball team was close enough to taste a victory over host Greenbrier Christian Academy on Friday. But the perennial winners of the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools tournament did what they needed to do in the sixth inning to secure another tourney championship, with a 3-1 final score.

“We definitely showed improvement from the first few times we played them,” Lady Saints head coach Brittany Wilkins said.

NSA’s prior meetings with the Lady Gators this season resulted in lopsided losses — 12-2 and 7-1.

“I think it was definitely our game to win, we just lost it in the sixth inning,” Wilkins said.

The Lady Saints out-hit Greenbrier Christian and got on the board in the first inning.

“Macy Mears singled to left field, then she stole second, and Madi Wilson came up with two outs and hit a single up the middle to score Macy,” Wilkins said.

Both teams had runners on base and in scoring position during the game, but each team’s defense was potent.

The Lady Gators were scoreless until the sixth inning, when they got all three of their hits and runs. The turnaround was aided by two costly NSA errors.

Wilkins praised her starting pitcher, eighth-grader Emily “EJ” Bankson, because though Greenbrier made its hits count, its talented offense only got three.

“I’d say that’s very noteworthy,” Wilkins said.

Bankson also got two of her team’s five hits in the game.

NSA (12-8) will begin play in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state playoffs on Tuesday, with the opponent and location yet to be announced.

“We hope to see Greenbrier again,” Wilkins said of its D-II opponent. “We want one more shot at them.”