The sixth inning played a key role in the Troy Belles’ semifinal game with Green Hill on Tuesday morning in the state tournament in Florence. The championship game was halted due to rain in the second inning with Troy trailing AUM 2-1.

Trailing 8-5 heading into the sixth inning, Green Hill scored nine runs and took over the lead at 14-8. Troy outdid Green hill in the bottom of the inning when they scored 11 runs and held on to win 19-16, sending them to the state championship.

“It was big,” Reeder said. “That showed us what this team has in them. They could have given up then and they fought back to tie the game, took the lead and kept adding to it.”

Troy sent four pitchers to the circle in the game. Stella Gilbreath got the start and lasted 3.1 innings before giving way to Bella Maulden, Molly Garrett and Sadie Leverette.

In Green Hill’s nine-run sixth inning, walks played a factor. Troy’s pitcher walked a total of six batters and also hit a batter.

In the bottom of the inning, Troy sent 15 batters to the plate in their half of the inning. Troy picked up seven hits in the inning, including RBI singles by Leverette, Alyssia Sellers, Madison Cain, Rayleigh Carter and Emily Bryan. Gilbreath hit a two-run double in the inning.

After finishing up the sixth inning, Maulden returned to the pitching circle for the seventh inning. Green Hill scratched across two runs, but Maulden shut the door and preserved the win.

Carter finished the game 3-4 with one RBI and a run scored. Heather Maxwell, Gilbreath and Garrett all picked up two hits.

“The girls hit the ball very well,” said head coach Scott Reeder. “Pitching was a little shaky, but like I said from day one, our hitting is pretty strong.”

Troy and AUM did a coin toss after their game got postponed. Troy won the coin toss bringing the conclusion of the game to the Sportsplex in Troy. The game will resume at 7 p.m. on field one.

“It’s going to be nice,” Reeder said. “They girls are going to be able to sleep in their own bed and get a good night’s rest and hopefully finishing things off in their own backyard.”