By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

They were down to their final out, and their last strike.

The Troup Lady Tigers were trailing North Murray by one run when Lexi Parker stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday afternoon at Shuford Fields.

Because of the time limitations placed on the games in the Callaway Classic, Troup knew the fifth inning was going to be its final opportunity to catch and possibly pass North Murray.

Parker, the number nine hitter in the order, was facing a 1-2 count, and Troup had a pair of runners on base after Olivia McInvale reached on a single and Makenzie Miller walked.

Parker got a pitch she could handle, and she drove the ball over the left-fielder’s head for a game-winning, two-run double to give Troup a 6-5 victory.

“She worked (the count) back to 1-2, and then stepped up as a freshman,” Troup head coach Kayla Yeargin said. “I’m really excited for her. She stepped up and made a big play.”

Leadoff hitter Kayla Layne was on deck when Parker won it.

“I was hoping we could get Kayla up there late,” Yeargin said. “But (Parker) came up clutch, and we didn’t even need (Lane). That was huge, especially after two girls (before her) struck out.”

Avery Pearson was Troup’s starting pitcher, and Makenzie Miller won the game in relief.

Unfortunately for the Lady Tigers, that was the only game they won during the two-day event.

On Friday, Troup lost to Columbus 12-3 and Landmark Christian 5-2.

Troup opened with an 11-0 loss to Heard County on Saturday before getting the dramatic win over North Murray.

In its final game, Troup fell to Brookstone 8-0.

Troup fell to 2-6 overall, but the slate will be wiped clean when it hosts Sandy Creek on Tuesday in its Region 5-AAAA opener.

“It’s frustrating to not win. If you’re losing and you’re OK with it that’s a bigger issue,” Yeargin said. “But the ones that really matter are coming up. Hopefully we’ll make a big statement in our first region game.”