CLARKSDALE, MS – With a 2-1 lead and just three outs shy of victory, the defending 4A state champion Demopolis High School Lady Tigers could not find a way to seal the deal as they gave up two runs on three hits to fall 3-2 in the seventh inning in Thursday nights battle with the Lady Bulldogs of Clarkdale.

After a ground out to start the inning, Clarkdale would see a double come their way. DHS ace pitcher Lauren Roark then struck out the next batter. But the Lady Bulldogs fought back and gathered back-to-back hits to end the contest.

Roark pitched 6 2/3 innings before Keasler relieved her in the seventh. Roark gave up 6 hits while walking two and striking out 11. Keasler (4-2) faced only one batter in the contest.

Demopolis (8-6) scored first in the contest with a run in the top of the third inning. Dorothy Knapp walked and moved to second on a passed ball.

She would then advance to third on an infield single by senior Timie Lee.

Heather Wright then reached on a bunt to load the bases and after a fly out by Kelly Keasler, Knapp would go home to score the Lady Tigers first run of the game on a passed ball to make the score 1-0.

The Lady Tigers grabbed another run in the fourth inning to extend their lead. Senior Katie Simmons reached with a lead off single, but could not find any help advancing from the next two batters until Knapp came to the plate and hit a two-out triple to score Simmons and make it a 2-0 game.

Clarkdale responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to cut into the Tiger lead. Demopolis would get several more runners, but would be unable to score another run in the game. Clarkdale would also have several opportunities as well, but thanks to some great glove work by Lee and Simmons, the Lady Bulldogs would not be able to find their go ahead runs until the bottom of the seventh.

Demopolis travels to Hale County tomorrow.

They will be at home on Saturday in the Demopolis Invitational. Monday the JV will travel to Sweet Water.