MONROE, La. — The Ferriday Gators’ goal of winning the world championship came to an end Tuesday morning as they were defeated by an even more determined Texas team 9-6 in an elimination game at the 2015 Dixie Debs World Series.

Ferriday jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning before Texas exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second, which was highlighted by a grand slam home run off losing pitcher Marty Lewis.

“Uncharacteristically, we gave up a bunch of runs early in the game. We ran into a hot-hitting Texas team,” Ferriday head coach Rut Horne said. “Except for the home run, it was all ground balls, and they got through the hole.”

The grand slam came on a 3-2 pitch and Horne said that the player for Texas who hit it out of the park had the power to do so. Lewis allowed six runs on five hits in one and two-third innings.

The Gators cut the lead to 7-4 in the top of the third before Texas got those two runs back to make it a 9-4 game by the bottom of the fourth. Ferriday scored two runs in the top of the fifth, but was unable to complete the comeback.

Emilee Howard was the only multiple hitter for Ferriday as she went 2-for-3. She also struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“We had the talent to be there. It just wasn’t meant to be,” Horne said. “We’ll lose five players off this team. We have seven returning, four of which are pitchers. Next year, the (Dixie Debs) World Series will be in Alexandria. That’s our goal.”