OXFORD – The Lady Blackhawks saw their five-run lead cut down to one by the end of the sixth. However, Oxford’s pitcher Allison Beckwith struck out two and came up with the play at home as the Unatego Spartans Hali Lucia tried to steal home, saving the 8-7 win for the Blackhawks Tuesday afternoon.

Unatego scored four runs in the fifth inning as Leah Hamm singled on the first pitch of the frame. Teammate Megan Short bunted to advance Hamm to second and was ruled safe at first, giving the Spartans two baserunners.

Jaci Zaveral also singled in the frame on a bunt, one that was placed in the right spot to score Hamm from third following her steal. Short and Zaveral both scored with steals at home, cutting the Oxford lead down to two runs.

Lucia doubled on a fly ball with one out for the Spartans, putting another runner on the base paths after being emptied once earlier in the inning. Lucia stole third base and scored with two outs on another steal at home for Unatego making the score 7-6 at the top of the fifth.

Oxford opened up their scoring in the first inning, when Logan O’Brien singled on a 0-2 count, scoring one run. The Lady Blackhawks tallied three in the inning after Beckwith’s two-run homer. Tacking on two in the third and fourth, Oxford jumped out to a 7-2 before the Spartans fourth inning rally.