By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The game was still in the balance when Troup pitcher Brantly Robinson walked the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning of Thursday’s matchup with the Shaw Raiders.

The Tigers were up 5-0, but that lead was in danger of quickly evaporating as the Raiders put a man on every base with no outs.

Robinson needed to find the strike zone, and he did.

The left-handed senior struck out the next two batters he faced, and he got a groundout to third baseman Colton Webb for the third out of the inning.

Robinson managed to escape that bases-loaded jam with no runs scoring, and Troup went on to capture a 10-0 victory in a game shortened to six innings because of the run rule.

Robinson threw the first four innings to get the win, and Jackson Knox pitched two innings to finish it.

Robinson and Knox both limited Shaw to one hit.

While Colby Williams and Garrett Casey are Troup’s two starters, Robinson fills a key role on the staff.

If a playoff series goes to a third and deciding game, Robinson could be the one to get the call with the season on the line.

“He plays a vital role in our program in a lot of different ways,” Troup head coach Craig Garner said. “He’s our number three pitcher, he’s a scrappy guy at the plate that can make a lot of things happen. He gets a lot of walks, gets bunts down, and he’s a good defensive guy (in the outfield) as well.”

After breezing through the first three innings, Robinson ran into trouble in the fourth inning, but he didn’t panic.

Robinson said his goal was to “just throw a strike, and let my defense work, and don’t worry if something happens. We’ve got a lead, and just take advantage of it.”

Robinson, a multi-sport standout at Troup who played football and was also a standout wrestler, enjoys the pressure situations.

“I want to be the guy with the ball,” Robinson said.

Robinson also did his part at the plate with an RBI hit during a four-run second inning.

Leadoff hitter Ryan Bliss stayed red-hot, going 2-for-3 with a triple, and he had two RBIs and two runs scored.

Caleb McCurry and Cade Garner each had a hit and two RBIs, Kenly Bridwell had an RBI single, Garrett Casey and Ethan Morton each had a hit and an RBI, and Colby Williams had a hit.

Troup jumped on top with a run in the bottom of the first.

Bliss led off with a triple, and he scored on a balk to give Troup a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the second, the Raiders got a leadoff single, but the Tigers turned a double play to thwart a potential rally.

Webb fielded the ball at third, and he threw a strike to second baseman Ethan Morton, who rifled the ball to first base to complete the double play.

The Tigers went to work in the bottom of the second and scored four runs.

With the bases loaded, Robinson had an RBI base hit, and Bliss followed with a two-run single to give Troup a 4-0 lead.

McCurry capped the rally with an RBI single, and Troup was on top 5-0.

Troup added a single run in the sixth inning.

With the bases loaded, Garner got a bunt down to drive in a run and give the Tigers a 6-0 lead.

Troup ended the game with four runs in the sixth inning.

With the bases loaded, Casey walked to drive in a run, and Bridwell and Garner followed with back-to-back RBI singles.

With the bases still full, Mortin earned a walk to drive in the 10th and final run.

Troup improved to 17-5, and it will be back home today against Mount Paran, with the first pitch set for 4 p.m.