FLORENCE – Hartselle used a stellar pitching performance from Jake Nelson and late-inning rallies to sweep Florence 1-0, 7-3 in the first round of the state playoffs Saturday.

The Tigers will now get a rematch with area rival Cullman beginning Friday afternoon at the Bearcats’ home field.

Nelson went the distance in game one, pitching a shutout while allowing just two hits and two walks with a strikeout. He pitched all seven innings with 84 pitches.

He outdueled Vanderbilt commit Brax Garrett, who allowed one run on two hits and three walks with nine strikeouts.

The lone run came in the fourth inning, when Collins Hanners drove in Collin Blackwood on an RBI single. Blackwood had the only other hit for Hartselle.

In game two, the Tigers got three hits each from Hayden Bradford and Tyler Cook to win 7-3.

Bradford had a double, an RBI and two runs scored while Cook had a triple and three RBIs.

Brady Netherton was 2-for-3 with an RBI. He earned the win on the mound in two and one-third scoreless innings of relief. He struck out two while allowing just one hit and no walks.

Mason Towers pitched the first four and two-thirds innings, allowing three unearned runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

Other hitters for Hartselle included Will Foote and Blackwood.