RESERVE — With a cool, brisk wind blowing in from center field, not even the team that leads the nation in home runs could hit any out in the first four innings against Pope John Paul II Saturday, so Riverside lead-off batter Toni Perrin had to improvise.

Her team was trailing 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning of the bi-district playoff game. Ball after ball had gotten stalled in the wind. Finally, though, Perrin knocked one hard enough to bounce off the center field fence for a triple. When the throw from the outfield skipped away from the Jaguars’ third baseman, she was just fast enough to make it home and tie the game at 2.

It was just the beginning of what would be an 11-run Riverside rally on the way to a 12-2 win that sends the No. 5 seed Rebels (24-7) to the second round against No. 12 Doyle, which defeated No. 21 Pickering, 2-1. The game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday in Reserve.

Perrin could not talk much about her heroics after the game. After leading off the game with a single, she was caught stealing second.

During the play, she slid into the Jaquars’ second baseman’s knee and was hit in the throat. She continued to play, however, and started the Rebels’ rally.

“Coach told me to go,” she whispered.

After that, it was all Riverside. The team sent 14 batters to the plate, knocking seven hits, including one home run.

Catcher Rayne Weber hit a two run bomb over the right field fence to give Riverside its first lead, 4-2, just after her coach threatened to bench her.

“Right before, my coach told me she was going to put a freshman in to sub for me if I didn’t show up,” Weber said.

The next five batters went on to reach base and score with the help of two errors, a fielder’s choice, a double by K.C. Becnel and a bunt single by Cheyenne Triche. Two more errors and three more hits helped the Rebels put the game away.

Madison Watson ended the game with a double off the wall to score the final two runs under the 10-run rule.

There were some tense moments early, however, after Pope John Paul II scored two runs in the top of the first. The Jaguars opened the game with back-to-back hits by Rachel Edwards and Payton Corwin. A misplayed ball hit by Chloe Cooper allowed both runs to score.

After that, Triche settled down in the circle. She gave up no more hits, walked two and struck out six.

“I think it was just nerves at the start of the game,” Triche said. “I kind of settled down and my team talked to me and calmed me down after every inning.”

Rebels coach Tamra Regalo said her team had a tough time battling the stiff wind.

“For a team that’s used to hitting the long ball, it was a tough day,” she said.

“It was a great win for us.”