CHAPEL HILL — The Person Rockets played perhaps their most complete game of the season thus far at a time when they really needed to Friday afternoon at East Chapel Hill.

Person pounded 10 base hits, played strong in the field, and ran the bases aggressively to hand the Wildcats their third conference softball loss of the season, 7-2.

East Chapel Hill defeated Person by a 5-3 margin back on March 18, but the scenario would play out much differently the second time around.

ECH was the only to defeat in PAC-6 play this season. The win kept the 8-1 Rockets in at least a tie for first place with Riverside. Meanwhile, the Wildcats (7-9 overall), who were alone in second place entering the contest, fell to 6-3.

“Another good win that helps us keep pace with Riverside. We’re having fun right now,” commented Rocket head coach Mike Shotwell, who said his team will have to be ready for a tough game with Northern Durham on Tuesday and not look ahead to Friday’s possible clash for sole possession of first place at Riverside.

“We still have a game to play on Tuesday. Northern’s a dangerous team and we respect them,” he added.

After ECH jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning, the Rockets, now 10-4 overall and 8-1 in their last nine games, evened the contest in the top of the third.

Brittany Shotwell poked an opposite-field double to the left-center field gap with two out and eventually came in on Chelsea Wrenn’s single over a drawn-in infield.

The Rockets took the lead for good in the fourth when they collected three runs to pull ahead 4-1. But for a fleeting moment it appeared as if they might come up empty.

Singles by Melissa Harris and Sara Wrenn, and a walk to Carrie Albert loaded the bases with nobody out. But a hard shot by Jennifer Bowen (headed for right field) hit Albert, who was on her way to second base.

Consequently, Albert was ruled out and all runners had to return to their initial bases. Erica Reaves then grounded into a force out at home plate and it looked like Wildcat starter Melissa Guerry would escape the trouble unscathed.

That would not be the case, however, as Jordan Rhew lofted a two-run single over the infield, and Reaves pulled off a surprising steal of home while Shotwell was being intentionally walked. It was a play that epitomized the Rocket base running attack, which put a ton of pressure on the Wildcat defense all day.

“We could have had a real big inning but [Albert] got hit with the ball and we still got three runs,” said Coach Shotwell. “We put some hits together and took advantage of their mistakes. We ran the bases well with Brittany going to second on the intentional walk and Erica stealing home on the throw back to the pitcher. I feel like that kind of shook them up a bit.”

Rocket starter Brittany Shotwell didn’t appear to be her usual dominating self on Friday (at least not by her standards anyway), giving up six hits. But her pitching was effective when it had to be as she finished with 11 strikeouts to earn her eighth win.

On the other side, the Rockets made good contact against Guerry, who pitched well against them the first time the teams met.

Three sixth-inning runs gave Person all the insurance it would need. Shotwell singled in Bowen and Reaves with the fifth and sixth tallies, while a dropped fly ball brought in the seventh and final run.

The Wildcats managed a run in their half of the seventh to account for the final margin.

Person, which has struggled at times in the field this year, had one of its better defensive games on Friday, perhaps best exemplified by catcher Reaves, who threw out three runners attempting to steal.

Conference play continues on Tuesday when the Rockets host Northern Durham at 4:30 p.m.