ALEXANDRIA, La. — The Ferriday Gators rode a strong performance by starter Ginny Daggett to a 9-6 victory against Tennessee in the Dixie Debs World Series Tuesday night.

Daggett pitched four innings, surrendering just one run on four hits along with striking out three. She also hit a three-run home run to help her team’s cause.

Gators head coach Rut Horne said he was proud of how his team continues to fight their way through the World Series.

“The first six innings were really good, and we went up 9-1, then that last inning we gave up five runs, but we were able to get together three outs and come away with a win,” Horne said.

Laura Perilloux pitched 2 1/3 innings, two of which were scoreless before she ran into trouble in the sixth. She gave up five runs, four earned, on five hits with no walks and one strikeout. Mollie Devening pitched the final two-thirds of the sixth to secure the save.

Ellen Bairnsfather and Kimble Devening both went 2-for-3 in the game.

The Gators will face Alabama at 6 p.m., and Horne said he’s expecting to see a good squad out of Alabama.

“It’s going to be a battle,” he said. “They’re very athletic.”