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The Troup softball team stunned no. 1 seeded and super regional hosts Cairo 7-5 in the opening game of the AAAA state playoffs on Wednesday.

It was a quick start for the Tigers, who scored two runs in the top of the first on an error when Madeira Sirmons hit a fly ball to left field. It was a crucial play for the Tigers as it got them on the board on what should have been a third out for the Syrupmakers.

It looked like the Syrupmakers would potentially tie the game or take the lead in the bottom of the third when they got two runners on with no outs, but starting pitcher Camdyn Bassett and the defense slammed the door on that. 

Cairo eventually did tie the game in the bottom of the fourth after three straight singles to lead off the inning. The Syurpmakers took a 3-2 lead after a passed ball.

The Tigers dug in from there and Bassett delivered quite possibly the biggest hit of her career when she launched a three-run homer over the left field wall to put the Tigers up 5-3 in the fifth inning. 

Bassett also had a big day on the mound, pitching a complete game while striking out a whopping 13 batters on just five hits. 

It was a true back-and-forth game as the Syrupmakers cut the Troup lead to just one run (5-4) heading to the sixth inning. 

Not content with their one-run lead, the Tigers stretched their lead out to three runs with a Zoe Graham one-run single and an error that allowed a second run to score in the inning for Troup.

Graham’s RBI proved to be the winning play of the game after Cairo got a run back in the bottom of the sixth inning to trim the Troup lead to two runs. 

Anna Grace Keller showed off her offense, finishing with the only multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.  As the team’s other starting pitcher, she could find herself starting against either Islands or Perry at 5 p.m.

Kaitlyn Smalley, Kaylee Umfress, Sheniyah Philpot, Gracie Baker, Graham and Bassett all had a hit apiece for the Tiger offense. 

A win against Islands or Perry at 5 p.m. will see Troup advance to the super regional championship.