Cullman swept a doubleheader Tuesday night at Reuben Sims Field to take the lead for the area championship.

The Tigers must sweep another doubleheader at Cullman Thursday at 4:30 p.m. to win the area championship and clinch home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Cullman pitcher Jesse Scott rang up 10 strikeouts while pitching a one-hitter against the Tigers in the 5-1 win. However, he gave up seven walks, allowing the Tigers to plate one run in the game.

Austin Parker just beat the throw on a potential double-play ball with the bases loaded, allowing Hayden Bradford to cut the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bradford had the only Tiger hit that inning with a leadoff single.

From that point, Scott shut down the Tigers to close out the win.

Mason Towers took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits and five walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Ben Kimbrough pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk.

Tate Mathis reached base with two walks while Will Foote, Bradford, Zeth Malcolm, Tyler Cook and Parker also reached on walks. Mathis and Brady Netherton also reached after being hit by pitches.

Cole Collins led Cullman with a 2-for-3 effort, an RBI and a double. Every other Cullman batter had at least a single with three collecting doubles – Orvis Cuevo, Maison Goodwin and Owen Lovell. Kolby Robinson had two RBIs.

In the second game, Cullman plated two runs in the top of the eighth inning to win 4-2.

Hartselle made the most of its two hits. Bradford and Taylor Easterling both had RBI singles in the game during the second inning. Netherton scored after walking while Cooper Wright scored after reaching on an error.

Collins Hanners reached on two walks while Foote, and Easterling also walked. Malcolm and Bradford were also hit by pitches.

Cullman’s Collins and Lovell had solo home runs in the first and fourth innings. A sacrifice and an error allowed Cullman to score the go ahead runs in the eighth.