TALLADEGA, Ala. – GAME 1 – Blue Mountain hit the road Thursday for a three-game SSAC series against Talladega but would lose a heartbreaker in Game 1 on a walkoff grand slam by Miguel Oropeza.
Before that, Blue Mountain staged a strong comeback to tie the game in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a three-run homer from Austin Beech.  Earlier in the eighth, Jacob Rousseau added to the board for the Toppers with a sac fly.
The Tornadoes would get five runs across the second and third innings against Topper starter Josh Smith, highlighted by Oropeza's first homer, a two-run job in the third.
Blue Mountain would finally score against Talladega starter Jose Franco in the sixth on an RBI single from Easton Rainer.
In the bottom of the ninth, Talladega would load the bases against Topper reliever Jesse Hancock.  Oropeza then proceeded to give his team series opener with the slam to left field.
Beech and Rainer both had three hits apiece for Blue Mountain, while Hancock suffered the pitching loss going 4.1 innings, giving up four runs against four hits with a couple Ks.
Oropeza finished with three hits, six RBI and three runs scored for Talladega.
The two teams will conclude the series Friday in Talladega in a doubleheader at noon and 3 p.m. CT.
 
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