SULPHUR — DeQuincy put together a near improbable comeback on Friday to force extra innings in the nonselect Division IV state championship game, but Oak Grove got the last word, winning 11-10 in 12 innings.

In the bottom of the 12th, No. 1 seed Oak Grove loaded the bases on a walk, fielder’s choice, and an intentional walk, and Tanner Duff hit a walk-off single to plate Spencer Foster for a third consecutive state championship.

Playing in its first state championship game since 1981, DeQuincy (19-12) battled back from a nine-run deficit.

“At the beginning of the year, our record started off a little slow, but they never gave up,” DeQuincy head coach Brady Carlson said. “They never stopped battling. That is just who they are. There is no quit in them.

“We were 90 feet from getting beat by 10. It is their refuse-to-lose attitude. I couldn’t be more proud of them. They fought for 12 innings.”

Oak Grove (17-12) scored two runs in the fourth inning and three in the fifth and looked as if it would win by run rule, but DeQuincy started its rally with five runs in the top of the sixth.

Reese Ashworth came up big DeQuincy when they needed it most. In the top of the seventh with the Tigers down to their final out and with two runners on base. He smashed a triple off the left-field wall to give the Tigers their first lead, 10-9, since the opening inning. He went 5-for-7.

Ashworth started on the mound two days after earning the win in the semifinals but was relieved after two innings. He returned to the mound in the seventh inning and pitched five scoreless innings until Oak Grove scored the winner. He finished with nine strikeouts and two walks in seven innings and allowed six runs on nine hits.

“He was struggling earlier,” Carlson said of Ashworth. “He was tired. He came to me and said he just didn’t feel it. He was tired, body tired, nothing with his arm. I am not going to hurt a kid to try to win a game.

“Then we got back close, and he said ‘Put me in.’ I didn’t at first. Turner Rodriguez got out of the inning, then we took the lead and I felt like it was the right time. He has been taken care of all year. He is just a warrior. I couldn’t be more proud of Reese. My opinion, Reese is the Class 2A MVP.”

Oak Grove tied the score in the bottom half of the inning when DeQuincy tried to throw a runner out at second, allowing Luke Simmons to score.

DeQuincy had a chance in the ninth to take the lead but had a runner thrown out at the plate. They loaded the bases in the top of the 12th but couldn’t get a run across.