MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Heith Brown pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout as the two-time defending champion Spanish Fort Toros defeated Southside-Gadsden 9-0 in the first game of a best-of-three series for the Class 5A state baseball championship on Friday.

Brown (8-2) threw 95 pitches with three strikeouts and three walks to get the win.

"I just tried to keep the ball low and change speeds," Brown said.

Spanish Fort head coach Tommy Walker was pleased with Brown's pitching, but said his fielding on Southside-Gadsden's bunts was critical.

"Heith doesn't look like he can move, but on that bunt down the line he made a great play. He was athletic enough to come in a make a play on those bunts."

Blain Crain had two hits and two RBIs, Shane English had three hits and two RBIs, Matt Hall had two RBIs and a run scored, and Joel Poe and Jesse McCord drove in runs for the Toros (35-8).

The teams will play again at 10 a.m. at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery. A Southside win would force a third game at 1 p.m.