Ali Forth celebrates after hitting the go-ahead run against Valley in a 2-0 win Thursday morning. | Drew Granthum

MONTGOMERY – Hartselle scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning and Jada Hayes struck out 18 in the Lady Tigers’ 2-0 win over Valley in the opening round of the Class 5A State Tournament.

The fourth-ranked Lady Tigers went on to beat No. 2 Curry 4-1 later in the day, setting up a showdown with Moody at 9 a.m. Friday for a berth in the state championship round.

Ali Forth broke the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh with an RBI single to score Bailey Powell, the runner for Madeline Sittason who had Hartselle’s first hit of the game.

Hope Cain then provided Hayes an insurance run with an RBI single to drive in Forth’s courtesy runner, Emily Lipinski.

That’s all Hayes would need as she struck out the side to end the game.

Hayes allowed just one hit in the top of the seventh inning. Another runner reached on a fielder’s choice, but Hayes got out of the inning thanks to a fly out to Sydnee Wiley and back-to-back strikeouts.

Ashley Boggs and Hope Cain broke up Valley pitcher Ryan Simpson’s perfect game by drawing walks in the sixth inning, but Hartselle failed to move the runners past second base.

The Lady Tigers had another close call in the sixth inning. Kelsi Schlehmeier hit a deep fly ball to centerfield, but Sarah Ellen Battles went over the wall to rob the Valley batter of a home run.

Hannah Jenkins came close to hitting a home run in the second inning, but Valley’s Dani Wright robbed her of a home run at the fence.

Hartselle 4, Curry 1

Jada Hayes continued her pitching prowess, as Hartselle defeated the No. 2 team in Class 5A.

Hayes finished with six strikeouts in the win and also hit a two-run double, giving Hartselle the lead for good. Hayes allowed one earned run on five hits and two walks.

Hannah Jenkins reached on an error, causing another run to score. Madeline Sittason drove in the other run.

Hope Cain and Sydnee Wiley had the other hits for Hartselle.

The lone run for Curry scored on Shauna Rowe’s RBI double. She was the only batter for each team to get two hits in the game.