VIDALIA, La. — Vidalia freshman Heather Miller tripled in the tying run and then scored the winning run when freshman Miranda Doughty’s one-out fly ball was misplayed in the ninth inning to give the Lady Vikings a 6-5 win over Franklin County here Tuesday.

&uot;It was an exciting game for the fans, but it was tough on the coaches,&uot;&160;said Vidalia High head coach Gary Paul Parnham.

The contest was tied at was tied at 4-4 after seven innings.

Neither team scored in the eighth.

Franklin County took a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth as Christy Day reached third on a two-out error and scored on a single by Jenny Chapman.

Miranda Higgins singled to start off Vidalia’s ninth before Miller delivered her one-out triple.

&uot;I asked the girls to show me how much character they had and they showed me,&uot; Parnham said. &uot;They don’t die easy. I was pleased with the win because Franklin County has a quality team.&uot;

The contest featured two of the top pitchers in the area as Vidalia’s Amanda Stricklin allowed six hits, struck out eight and walked four.

Mandy McGehee of Franklin County allowed six hits and struck out four.

&uot;It was a challenge because most pitchers we’ve faced are not of that high quality,&uot; Stricklin said.

Franklin County scored two runs in the first inning as Katie Johnson walked, Janet Chapman singled and McGehee reached on an error.

Vidalia answered with a run in the bottom of the first as Miller led off with a walk and Stricklin delivered a two-out triple.

Vidalia took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Jenny Watson walked, Stricklin singled and Maggie Dungan collected an RBI single.

Miranda Higgins walked and Jaci DeWeese delivered an RBI single.

Franklin County tied the game in the top of the sixth as Janet Chapman walked, McGehee singled and moved to second on a throw to third.

With two outs and Heather Mack at the plate, Chapman and McGehee scored on a wild pitch and throwing error to tie the game at 4-4.

Day singled with two outs in the top of the seventh for the Lady Bulldogs and Jenny Chapman reached on an error, but Day was thrown out by Miller to Lady Viking catcher Stephanie Elliot to end the inning.

Vidalia loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but could not score a run.

Franklin County turned two double plays.

&uot;They have the best middle infield of anybody we’ve played with those two (Chapman) twins,&uot; Parnham said.

Vidalia, 11-2, hosts Monterey Thursday before visiting Franklin County on Friday.

Franklin County drops to 4-2. The Lady Bulldogs will host Morton in a doubleheader on Saturday.