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The Troup baseball team split a doubleheader against Pickens on Tuesday in the Final 4, setting up a winner-take-all game 3. The Tigers had a state championship appearance in their grasp, but let it slip away in game two as the Dragons pulled off a furious rally.

 

GAME ONE:

Troup – 8

Pickens – 0

 

The Tigers jumped out to a quick lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Brady Willis hit an RBI single to get Troup on the board. A Chase Mosley sacrifice fly doubled the Tigers’ lead.

Troup made it 4-0 in the third inning as an error from the Dragons allowed two runs to reach home. 

The Tigers completely blew the game open with four runs in the fourth inning. Davis Moncus walked with the bases loaded to send the first run of the inning home. Carson Walker singled to drive home two additional runs in the inning. A Garrison Edwards RBI single gave Troup an 8-0 lead.

Jake Perry started on the mound for Troup and dominated in his six innings of work, allowing just five hits on five strikeouts.

Rylan Cantrell pitched the final inning for the Tigers and slammed the door on any rally attempt by Pickens.

Moncus and Walker had two hits each while Willis, Edwards and Perry had one apiece. 

 

GAME TWO:

Troup – 4

Pickens – 5

 

The Tigers got off to another quick start in game two with a run in the top of the first courtesy of a Fisher Baltzell RBI single. 

Troup added to its lead with a trio of runs in the top of the third inning. Carson Williams reached home on a passed ball to double the Tiger lead. Willis singled to drive home two more runs in the inning and give Troup a 4-0 lead. 

The Dragons refused to go away quietly, scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning. Pickens had a chance for more, but left the bases loaded to end the inning. The Dragons added four runs in the sixth to take their first lead of the series, 5-4. 

The Tigers attempted to get a rally going in the seventh, but left the tying run stranded on second and the potential winning run on first. 

Moncus started on the mound in game two and was superb in limiting a potent Pickens offense. The sophomore allowed just two hits on two strikeouts in his three innings of work.

Cason Spears pitched the final three innings for Troup. 

Walker led the team with two hits while Baltzell and Willis had one apiece with offense much harder to come by for the Tigers in game two.

 

WHAT’S NEXT:

Game three will be hosted at The Jungle at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. This will be the first game three of the postseason for Troup. 

The winner of that game three will play either Cherokee Bluff or Peach County (who will also be playing a winner-take-all game 3 on Wednesday) in the GHSA 3A state championship series.