Class B state baseball: Zac Fowler hits game-winning single as Asher beats Tupelo

But that junior — Zac Fowler — delivered a game-winning infield single one batter after Asher had tied it to come out with a 5-4 win at Palmer Field at Dolese Park.

“On paper, we shouldn't have been able to compete with those guys,” Asher coach Shane Coker said. “But these guys have accepted the challenge and tonight was no different.”

Asher (29-6) will play Red Oak at 2:30 p.m. Saturday for the title.

Asher entered the final inning down a run and looked like they might've missed an opportunity when Tim Johnson laced a likely double down the right-field line with two out and one on. But the runner at first had called time just before the pitch, negating the hit.

Johnson struck out to put Tupelo one out away from the win with the bottom third of Asher's order coming up.

Freshman Corey Holman kept the inning going with a single before back-to-back walks tied the game and turned over the lineup to get Fowler to the plate.

Fowler took two strong cuts before hitting a sharp grounder to the right of Tupelo shortstop Matt Benedict, who knocked down the ball but couldn't get it to third in time for the third out as Holman raced across the plate.

The game was the fourth meeting of the year between the teams. Tupelo had won all three of their previous games.

“These five freshman and this team have brought our town, community and school together,” Coker said. “Win or lose tomorrow, I'm so proud of what they've been able to do.”