Down a run and facing elimination in the final inning, Troup rallied with seven hits, two walks and two Pickens errors to win 8-1 in Game 2 of the Class 3A baseball series at Synovus Park in Columbus.

Pickens was three outs from winning its first state championship in any sport since 1974. The decisive Game 3 is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday.

Troup’s Davis Moncus and Carson Walker singled to left field to start the seventh inning against Christian Starks, who had thrown six scoreless innings, allowing two hits.

Pickens went to the bullpen, but Troup shortstop Chase Mosley, a Georgia Southern signee, followed with a bunt single and later hit a two-run double as Troup batted around against five Pickens pitchers.

Torreion Delaney and Brady Willis also had hits in Troup’s big inning. Mosely and Walker had two apiece.

Pickens won 7-2 in Game 1. A.J. Rice, an Auburn signee, pitched a five-hitter while striking out 10.

Pickens broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning powered by Rob Turner’s lead-off double, Kam Jenkins’ RBI single and Everett Grubbs’ two-run triple.

Game 1 boxscore

ajc.com

Credit: West Georgia Sports Information Services

icon to expand image

Credit: West Georgia Sports Information Services

Game 2 boxscore

ajc.com

Credit: West Georgia Sports Information Services

icon to expand image

Credit: West Georgia Sports Information Services

About the Author

Keep Reading

Georgia Tech’s Kent Schmidt celebrates after scoring a run with teammates in the dugout during the third inning against Georgia in a NCAA baseball game at Truist Park, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

Featured

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker was defeated in a nonpartisan election Tuesday by a prosecutor in the office of District Attorney Fani Willis, as was another judge on the court. (Jason Getz/AJC 2025)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com