By Ryan McCollough

Troy kept the dreams of a World Series win alive by knocking off Tennessee 6-5 in the morning game of the championship round.

Three teams, Troy, Tennessee and Mississippi entered championship round with one loss. Mississippi received a buy to the title game, while Troy and Tennessee battled it out to determine the other team.

Troy third baseman Brooke Bennent laced double to left field, scoring Katie Warrick from first to seal a trip to the finals.

“It went back and forth all day,” said Troy head coach Shane Calhoun. “We got some timely hits, and the girls played really hard. We knew we needed a run in that last inning. We had the top of the order up and got a few good hits.

The two teams traded the lead throughout the game. Tennessee struck first by platting three run in the first. Troy answered back in their half of the second scoring three runs of their own.

Troy sent nine batters to the plate, and used five walks and single by Whitaka Starks to tie the game up a three runs apiece

Hannah Calhoun went the distance in the circle for Troy. She scattered seven hits, while striking two. Calhoun did not allow a run after the third inning.

“It was a game we had to have, “said Shane Calhoun. “I went with my ace pitcher, and she gave up a few hits but we were able to pull it out in the end.”

Troy is the host team of the Dixie Angels X-Play World Series, something that Coach Calhoun believes plays in to their hands.

“This is there home field,” said Calhoun. “So we have a little bit of an advantage, I think. We played well today when we had to.”

Starks lead Troy at the plate with two hits and run scored. Hannah Calhoun, Brooke Bennent and Lydia Harrison also had hits for the host team. Katie Warrick, Graci Williams, Emma Kirkpatrick, Harrison and Starks scored runs to Troy.