The 20-9 Demopolis High Lady Tigers may have won the game, but they lost the coin toss in Friday’s area showdown with the Dallas County Lady Hornets.

The Lady Tigers came into Friday’s game with a 2-1 are record, while the Lady Hornets stood ahead with a 3-0 area record. But after the Lady Tigers 3-1 win over the Lady Hornets, the two teams were dead even and only a coin toss could decide which team would come out ahead in the area.

But on the field, where it really matters, it was all Demopolis. Senior pitcher Kelly Keasler, with her off speed change-up, dominated the Lady Hornets through seven innings to pick up the much-needed win for the Lady Tigers. Keasler collected a total of 8K’s, while giving up one run on six hits with three walks.

Both Keasler and Dallas County starter Mallory Miller set the tone early in this game, which made way for a great pitching duel. That is until the Lady Tigers busted the Miller dam and collected two runs in the fourth inning to break the 0-0 tie.

With two out and runners on second and third, senior India Chancelor popped a ball just over Miller’s head that would fall in for a RBI single scoring the lady Tigers first run of the game.

One batter later, Miller would throw one wild and allow another DHS run to score making it a 2-0 game.

“That was the first time this season that we have been able to get to her like that,” DHS head coach Wayne Harris said. “We made her throw strikes this time around and in doing so, caused her to stay on the mound for a longer period of time.”

The Dallas County starter would earn 5K’s against the Lady Tigers, while giving up three runs on six hits with three walks through seven innings.

Miller would then walk the next batter to load the bases, but got a break on a DHS pop out that would end the inning. Dallas County would get one run back in the top of the fifth inning, but it would not be enough to catch the Lady Tigers who would go on to collect another run in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach for the Lady Hornets.

For Demopolis it was Chancelor who led the way at the plate going 2-for-3 with an RBI single. Following Chancelor would be junior Kristin Etheridge with two hits. Senior Lauren Roark along with senior Heather Wright would each collect one hit apiece.

“We were very patient at the plate today,” Harris said. “And we finally got a few balls to fall our way.”

By losing the coin toss, the Lady Tigers take the No. 2 seeding in the area and will have to face Greensboro next Friday at 3:30 in the Area Tournament, but will have the home field advantage throughout the tournament.