CAMERON — Less than 24 hours after producing some seventh-inning heroics to extend its season, Troy’s magic ran out in the decisive third game of its Class 3A area-round series.

Franklin scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh to break a 2-all deadlock, and the Trojans left the tying run on base in the bottom of the frame as the Lions escaped with a 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon at The Yards of Cameron.

After Franklin (30-4-1) won the opener 3-1 on Thursday before Troy (30-4) scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to win 3-2 on Friday night, Saturday’s outcome sent the Lions into the regional semifinals and ended the Trojans’ campaign.

“I think our kids competed well,” Troy head coach Steve Sebesta said. “For over 21 innings, our pitchers did a heck of a job. Ultimately, we just didn’t score runs and never really got anything going offensively.”

Trailing 2-0 in the series finale, the Trojans came alive in the bottom of the sixth against Franklin reliever Carter Johnson, who threw 79 pitches in Game 2.

Tucker Creel got things started with a grounder to third baseman Tyler LeBouf, whose errant throw to first allowed Creel to reach second, and Ryder Sommer followed with a single to left field to put runners on the corners. Cohen Ketcham laid down a sacrifice bunt to plate Creel, and Colt Copeland’s two-out RBI double sent Sommer home to tie the game heading into the seventh.

Franklin responded in the top of the final frame when Noah Tart reached first on an error by second baseman Kael Brentham and scored on LeBouf’s two-out RBI single to center field.

Staked to a 3-2 lead, Carter worked around Creel’s one-out single to center to retire the Trojans and seal the Lions’ win.

Troy had chances to strike throughout the game but left 13 runners stranded.

Reed Ketcham reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the first, and Joseph McMurtry and Brentham drew one-out walks before a strikeout and a fly ball left the bases loaded.

The Trojans also left two runners aboard in the second and third, two in the fourth, three in the sixth and one in the seventh.

Franklin opened the scoring in the second when Tart was hit by a pitch, moved to third on Noah Gross’ sacrifice bunt and came home on a Dylan Stallones single.

The Lions extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth when Walker Anderson hit a leadoff triple and scored on Phillips’ sacrifice fly to deep left.

McMurtry went the distance on the mound for Troy, surrendering five hits and a walk to go with nine strikeouts.

After winning 30 games with a roster that included only two seniors, the Trojans can turn their attention to next year. Sebesta believes this season’s playoff experience can be used as motivation for his younger players.

“On the mound, we’re going to return a lot of wins,” he said. “We played a lot of the season with a bunch of sophomores, so they got a great experience out of this three-game series. And we only lose two seniors, so returning all those guys will help.”