Priest’s walk-off HR propels Troup to 7-6 win over West Rusk\\
TROUP – Lili Priest launched a two run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Troup a 7-6 win over visiting West Rusk Tuesday night. The win was the Lady Tigers’ third-straight District 16-3A victory. In what was a see-saw affair, the Lady Tigers (11-13, 4-2) trailed 6-4 going into their final at bat after the Lady Raiders (4-7, 1-3) plated four runs in the top of the seventh.
Despite having an extremely youthful roster – eight freshmen and four sophomores are on this season’s Lady Tiger team – Troup has been playing like a team of veterans recently, having knocked off Gladewater 13-8 in nine innings a week ago. Sophomore Heather Longino got the rally started for the Maroon and White by leading off the seventh with a double to deep left field. With one out, freshman Haylee Cheatham clubbed a double into the gap in right center, which sent Longino in to score and trimmed the Lady Raider lead to one run.
With two outs and Cheatham on second base, Priest strolled into the batter’s box and ripped her second home run of the season, which plated the tying and game winning runs. Priest, who also stroked an RBI double in the second frame, went 3-4 with four RBI in the game – she now has 19 RBI for the season. Cheatham went 2-4 with two RBI and Longino had a 2-4 evening.
Olivia Anderson and Bendi Saucdo each had a base hit and drove in a run for the Maroon and White. Saucedo, a freshman, made the defensive play of the game in the sixth inning. With two outs and West Rusk’s Lainey Dotson on first base, Saucedo made a diving catch to her right to rob Lyric McCandless of what would have been an extra base hit.
Troup played well defensively and made just one error, compared to the Lady Raiders’ four miscues. Freshman Ashlynn Dowdle tossed a complete game for the Lady Tigers. She gave up 11 hits, struck out eight and walked one.