The Troy Ozone team responded emphatically to Thursday’s opening round loss when they defeated Moulton 15-1 in Friday’s second round of Dixie Ozone State Tournament.

The win keeps Troy alive for tomorrow morning’s elimination game.

“It was a great win for sure,” said Troy manager Bobby Templin. “It was a little bit of a grind, but it was good to be able to get back.”

The game stayed fairly tight most of the way with Troy holding on to a seven-run lead as late as the sixth, before they took off and scored seven runs in the final two innings.

“After a late night and the heat it was so much of a grind today (Friday),” Templin said. “We didn’t hit the ball like we are capable of, but we at least did what we needed to do, both offensively and defensively.”

William Templin started the game for Troy against Moulton and lasted just under three innings before Connor Thrash came in and got Troy out of a bases loaded jam. Cameron Cox pitched the final inning for Troy.

“They looked well,” Templin said. “They threw strikes and they made the other team put the ball in play. They had a couple balls they hit hard, but for the most part they were not hit very hard.”

Troy hit two homeruns in the game by Mario Davenport and Phoenix Griffin in their first at bats.

“It got us doing what we needed to do,” Templin said. “It got our juices going a little bit.”

Troy now advances to take on the winner of Alexandria and Smiths Station beginning at 10 a.m. in Andalusia.

“At this point it’s one game at a time,” Templin said. “That is how we are approaching it.”