MADISON — It happened so fast, many of the fans attending Monday’s clash of unbeaten Class C South rivals didn’t even have time to take a seat. Five batters into Madison’s first at bat provided all the runs the Bulldogs would need in a big 3-1 win over the Rebels.

Madison (8-0) scored three times in the first inning, then held on for a crucial win over Telstar (7-1), the team that beat the Bulldogs, 8-3, in the Class C regional final last spring.

“I wouldn’t mind losing four times during the season, if every game was like today,” Telstar coach Jim Lunney said. “We gave up those three runs in the first inning then outscored Madison, 1-0, the rest of the game. They are a really good team.”

Telstar pitcher Olivia York shut down the Madison bats after the quick outburst in the first, sitting down 12 straight Bulldogs until Whitney Bess hit a single up the middle in the fifth. York allowed just five hits in the game.

Madison pitcher Madeline Wood was equal to the task, working a fastball and change-up effectively to keep the Telstar hitters off balance. Wood retired the first nine batters she faced before Ashley Savage smacked a lead-off single to right in the fourth.

“Our defense was great; they did an awesome job,” Wood, who had seven strike outs, said. “Getting up early really helped.”

“With our pitcher throwing strikes, we showed we have people that can play,” Madison coach Chris LeBlanc said. “(Whitney) Bess at third was outstanding. I wish we could play games like this every day.”

Lead-off hitter Kayla Bess set the tone for the Bulldogs on offense, scrambling to first for an infield single to jump start Madison’s attack. Ashley Emery moved Bess to third on a sacrifice bunt before Wood reached on a fielder’s choice to put runners at the corners.

Aly LeBlanc, hitting in the fourth spot, launched a high fly ball to deep centerfield, that clanked off the top of the fence bouncing back into the field of play. LeBlanc reached second for a double and two RBI’s for the Bulldogs.

Sydney LeBlance followed with an RBI single to right, to give Madison a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

It was all pitching and defense, until Telstar rallied briefly in the seventh when Becca Howard drilled a sharp single to left and Hayley Peterson slapped an RBI ground ball single just inside the third base bag to cut Madison’s lead to 3-1 with one out.

Wood, however, went to her fast ball to retire the final two batters recording a three-hitter.