Baseball Roundup: No. 1 Oxford slips by Spanish Fort

Sam Robertson’s RBI single in the top of the seventh lifted top-ranked Oxford to a 6-5 victory over No. 6 Spanish Fort in the first game of the best-of-three Class 6A state baseball finals on Tuesday at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park.

The start of the game was delayed by two hours due to inclement weather.

Game 2 is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Jacksonville State. Spanish Fort would need to win that one to force a decisive Game 3.

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The Toros (29-18) had to make an abrupt pitching change minutes before the start of the game. While warming up, scheduled starter Jon Henry Winstead told coaches that he didn’t feel he could go. Head coach JD Pruitt called on sophomore Colin Murphy, who gave up four runs in the first inning but pitched 6.1 innings to keep his team close.

Oxford (38-6) took a 4-0 lead in the first. The big blow was a two-run single by starting pitcher Hayes Harrison. Spanish Fort countered with three runs in its half of the first and then added single runs in the second and third. Oxford also scored in the third and the score remained 5-5 until the top of the seventh.

DJ Eurgil singled for the Toros in the bottom of the seventh. However, Hayes Miller struck out and was called for interfering with the catcher on a stolen base attempt by pinch-runner Justin Fenderson to end the game.

Nick Richardson and Harrison each had two hits for the Yellow Jackets. Harrison and Sam Robertson each had two RBIs. Harrison, a senior, went 6.1 innings on the mound to get the win. He allowed eight hits and five runs – four earned – and struck out three. RJ Brooks got the final two outs for the save.

Eurgil was 3-for-4 to lead the Toros. Each team had eight hits.

Oxford will try to win its first state title since 2012 on Wednesday. Spanish Fort needs a sweep to win its fifth title overall and first since 2014.

The Toros are in a familiar spot, however. They’ve lost the first game in three of their four playoff series but rallied to win at home against McAdory and Saraland and on the road at Stanhope Elmore.

This post will be updated