Ben Koestler needed to provide his team with a spark.

LSU signee Jamie Johnson had cruised through the first three innings Tuesday night until Koestler came up in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The senior catcher slammed a double which began an eight-run rally and lifted the Vikings (2-1) to a 10-6 victory over defending Louisiana Class 4A champion West Ouachita.

&#8220We started battling the pitcher, back-to-back hits, walks and everything to rattle him and get some runs,” said Koestler, who finished the day with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. &#8220You have to look for the fastball and jump on it.”

Johnson, who signed with LSU as an outfielder, saw Warren Central send 12 batters to the plate in the fourth. Josh Gordon, Cody Ferguson and Kyle Calhoun each had RBI singles in the inning, and Jonathan Ettinger had an RBI after being hit by a pitch – the third WC player plunked in the inning.

Leading 5-2, Eric Douglas put an exclamation point on the inning with a bases-clearing triple. It also chased Johnson from the mound.

The Chiefs came into the critical fourth inning with a 2-0 lead that could have been much worse.

Johnson led off the game by reaching on an error and Tyler Pyles singled to put runners at first and second. Casey Anderson followed with a double to score Johnson. A walk to cleanup hitter Matt Currie loaded the bases with no outs.

Gordon then struck out Justin Hollis, got a fielder’s choice groundout at home and a groundout to shortstop to halt the rally.

&#8220The first thing I did when I got back in the dugout is say, ‘that’s gonna haunt us,’” West Ouachita coach Mitch Thomas said. &#8220I felt like we could have gotten their pitcher off the mound and into their bullpen early. When that happened, I really thought the momentum jumped to their side and I don’t think we got it back the rest of the game.”

Gordon breezed through the next two innings before allowing a solo home run to Jeff Giovingo in the top of the fourth.

The Chiefs rallied to within 8-6 going into the bottom of the sixth before Koestler struck again. His two-RBI double scored Nick Carson and Sean Elliott for a 10-6 lead.

Carson, who came on in relief for Jeff Ward in the sixth, pitched a perfect seventh inning. Gordon pitched 4 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs on four hits and struck out three. Johnson struck out six in the losing effort.

Douglas led WC with three RBIs and the Vikings pounded out eight base hits. Hollis had a two-RBI double for the Chiefs.

Vicksburg 30, Riverside 0.

Steven Price and Cameron Cooksey combined for a five-inning no-hitter for the Gators (2-0).

Price worked two innings and struck out two, while Cooksey pitched the final three innings and struck out two.

Vernon Wolfe led the Gators’ 17-hit attack with a home run, single and five RBIs. Jordan Henry had a double and a single and Tyler Wells singled twice in the win.

PREP SOFTBALL.

Warren Central 16, Riverside 1.

Tiffany Fuller threw a no-hitter and the Lady Vikes (1-0) opened the season with a blowout victory. Fuller struck out six in the win and also had a single and a double.

Mandy Fuller and Kirsten Tackett each had three hits and Anna Jones had two hits.