The Troy Junior Dixie Boys were one win away from a state title on Tuesday, finishing second in the state tournament after a loss to rival Enterprise.

“These guys came out here with nothing to lose,” Troy head coach Kevin Bryan said. “We were kind of an after-thought going into the tournament, and no one gave us much of a chance. It was an accomplishment for us to get how far we did.”

Troy started Tuesday two wins away from clenching the state title and easily defeated Southeastern 7-2 in the first game.

Troy plated two runs in their first at bat. After Jackson Blair reached base on an error and Payne Griffin reached base on a walk, both runners came around to score.

Caden Bryan, Blair, and Ty Singleton reached base in the second inning and Troy extended the lead 3-0. Troy scored one run in the fourth and another in the fifth, when both Blair and Payne Griffin doubled.

Troy scored its their final run in the seventh after Blair and Jalen Deveridge both walked setting up a Bryan single to score.

Payne Griffin and the Troy pitching staff held to just two runs on seven hits.

Blair led Troy offensively with three hits in game one, including a double in the fifth. Blair also scored three runs in the game.

With the win Troy survived and advanced to play Enterprise, the team that had handed Troy its lone loss on Monday. Enterprise proved too much again and Troy lost, 19-3.

Enterprise put Troy behind the eight ball early by scoring five runs in the firt inning.

Troy made an effort to come back in the bottom half of the first inning and put up two runs when Blair and Griffin both reached base via the walk. Hits by Holt Steed and Logan Johnson resulted in two RBIs.

Walks and errors plagued Troy, and Enterprise added three runs in the second inning. Enterprise sent 13 players to the plate in the third inning and scored eight runs.

“We ran out of gas at the end and I am OK with that,” Bryan said. “They left everything they had on that field. The score was ugly, but I am extremely proud of these guys. They came out and competed.”

Enterprise advances to the World Series in South Carolina.