DURHAM — The Person Rockets played like the team many envisioned they would be before the season, as they rallied for eight runs in the first three innings Thursday and defeated the Northern Durham Knights, 9-3, in a Piedmont Athletic Conference softball battle at Northern High School Field.

The Rockets scored four times in the first and third frames to pull ahead 8-0. And with the exception of a minor three-run Knight uprising in the bottom of the third, they cruised home with the victory.

Coming off a disappointing 5-3 loss at home to East Chapel Hill on Tuesday (where all the Wildcat runs were unearned with the help of five Person errors), Rocket head coach Mike Shotwell liked what he saw on the diamond in Thursday’s contest.

“We told the players after the game that we don’t know who that team was that played on Tuesday, but this is the team we want to see right here,” he said.

Person improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference, while Northern fell to 2-3 and 1-2 in the PAC-6.

The Rockets wasted no time in redeeming themselves after Tuesday’s defeat by putting up a four-spot in the opening inning.

With one out, a Jordan Rhew single, a double off the right field fence by Brittany Shotwell, and a walk to Carrie Albert loaded the bases for Meghan Lay, who reached on an error that brought home the first two Rocket runs.

Chelsea Wrenn then singled home Lay, and scored herself on an error for a 4-0 lead.

Person finished with nine hits in the game, as the balls were finding open areas, unlike the ECH game.

Coach Shotwell thought his team hit well enough in Tuesday’s loss but he seemed more satisfied with the at-bats in Thursday’s win.

“The wind today was tough and we got a little lucky with a couple of our hits to right field,” he said. “I didn’t see that much difference in the pitching from the other day to today. Our hitting was just better.”

Person’s four-run output in the third all started with two out. Wrenn singled and eventually made it to third base on an error and a passed ball. Melissa Harris drove her in with a single, and later an infield single by Kaylyn Newsome scored pinch runner Tracey Vaughan.

Erica Reaves then lifted a fly ball that was dropped and two more runs came across for the Rockets, who added a single tally in the fourth when Lay scored on a passed ball. Albert doubled earlier in the fourth but was later forced out at home.

On the other side, the Knights did reach Rocket starter Brittany Shotwell for three in the third.

Alyssa Williams was hit by a pitch and Ashleigh Cowthorne walked to put two runners on. That’s when Amber Fields laced a shot to right that got past the outfield and scored two runs. Fields got all the way to third base on the play and came across on a groundout for Northern’s third and final run.

Kailey Farmer went 2-for-3 with a second-inning double for the Knights.

From there, Shotwell (five hits, 11 strikeouts, three walks) didn’t relinquish much, facing 15 hitters and allowing just one hit through the final four innings. She is now 2-1 on the season.

The Rocket ace wiggled her way out of an early first-inning threat when she struck out three straight hitters after giving up a leadoff triple to Williams.

Northern starter Katy Lloyd took the loss, but showed grit after being touched up for nine runs over the first four frames. She didn’t allow a hit over the last three innings and retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced.

Person returns to conference action on Tuesday against league leader Riverside at the Person field (scheduled 4 p.m. start).