Holtville went into the top of the seventh inning trailing Sardis 2-0 in the first game of the AHSAA Class 5A State Baseball Championship Series Thursday night at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park.

The Bulldogs (26-14) rallied, however, with three runs in the top of the inning, and pitcher Tanner Potts shut down the Lions in order in the bottom of the seventh to help his team escape with a 3-2 come-from-behind win.

Holtville takes a 1-0 advantage into Game 2 of the 5A championship series, which shifts to Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium on the campus of Jacksonville State University on Friday. Game 2 will start at noon, with game three, if needed, set to begin 30 minutes after completion of game two.

The game was pushed back from its original start time of 10 a.m. because the team played well past 11 p.m. Thursday night due to an extended weather delay that prevented the game from starting until after 9 p.m.

Sam Silas, a Jacksonville State signee, had the game-winning hit in the final inning for Holtville. His single to center field drove in Hudson Parson with the winning run. Randy Bridges drove in the tying run with single to left field, and Potts picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Sardis took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Levi Martin reached safely on a throwing error, which allowed Baylor Gerrard to score from third. The Lions added another run in the fourth inning thanks to an RBI single to left field by Trey Thornton which drove in Blaze Gerhart.

Potts allowed six hits, two runs, one walk and struck out four to get the win. Luke Weems also went the distance scattering five hits, allowing three runs and striking out five. Gerhart had three hits, including two doubles, for Sardis.

Drew Connor had two hits for Holtville.

AHSAA STATE FINALS RESULTS

CLASS 1A

Game 1: Appalachian (30-4) 18, Brantley (20-8) 3

Game 2: Appalachian (31-4) 11, Brantley (20-9) 10 (Appalachian wins series 2-0)

CLASS 2A

Game 1: Ariton (30-12-1) 2, Vincent (30-6) 1

Game 2: Ariton (31-12-1) 5, Vincent (30-7) 4 (Ariton wins series 2-0)

CLASS 6A

Game 2: Oxford (39-6) 12, Spanish Fort (29-19) 3 (Oxford (39-6) wins series 2-0)

CLASS 4A

Game 1: Etowah (29-11) 6, UMS-Wright (27-13) 1

Game 2: Etowah (30-11) 5, UMS-Wright (27-14) 1 (Etowah (30-11) wins series 2-0)

CLASS 3A

Game 1: Gordo (33-5) 2, Houston Academy (26-8) 1

Game 2: Houston Academy (27-8) 4, Gordo (33-6) 3 (8 innings)

Game 3: Houston Academy (28-8) 4, Gordo (33-7) 3 (Houston Academy (28-8) wins series 2-0)

CLASS 7A

Game 1: Vestavia Hills (33-10) 5, Central-Phenix City (33-10) 4

Game 2: Central-Phenix City (34-10) 5, Vestavia Hills (33-11) 4

Game 3: Vestavia Hills (34-11) 4, Central-Phenix City (34-11) 1 (Vestavia Hills (34-11) wins series 3-2)

CLASS 5A

Game 1: Holtville (26-14) 3, Sardis (30-7) 2

Game 2: Holtville (26-14) vs. Sardis (30-6), Fri., Jacksonville State U., noon a.m.

Game 3: Holtville (26-14) vs. Sardis (30-6), Fri., Jacksonville State U., if needed