HUNTSVILLE — When Cullman’s softball team needed a boost late in Friday’s North Regional Tournament, Claire Jenkins came to the rescue.

The Bearcat junior hammered a walk-off, two-run homer in the ninth inning to stun Muscle Shoals in a 2-1 victory at Huntsville’s Sportsplex.

Cullman (29-15) will battle No. 1 Southside-Gadsden in the Class 6A winner’s bracket Saturday at 10:30 a.m. A victory would send the Black and Gold straight to state, while a loss would set up a do-or-die matchup shortly after.

“Down 1-0, it’s either score or lose,” coach Stephanie Barlow said. “I could see it on Claire’s face when she stepped to the plate. She had the look that said, ‘This game is over.’ First pitch, she knocked it out.”

Taiya Ponder beat out an infield hit to set the stage for Jenkins, while Olivia Schwaiger kept Cullman in it through nine long frames.

“Hopefully we can go out and finish strong tomorrow,” Barlow said.

In an earlier game, the Bearcats shut out Fort Payne 7-0.

% West Point 4, Ardmore 0: The Lady Warriors punched a weekend ticket in the Class 5A North Regional Tournament with a solid seventh frame on Friday afternoon.

Mallory Walker broke a scoreless tie with an RBI hit in the decisive inning before Jeri Beasley tripled home two runs and Karra Elam brought one more around with a double.

Elam (three hits, RBI), Walker (two hits, RBI), Beasley (hit, two RBIs), Kayla Sullins (two hits) and Bailee Yearwood (one hit) contributed for West Point.

Beasley scattered three hits and two strikeouts for the win in the circle.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, they ran into a buzzsaw during the nightcap, falling 19-1 to Boaz.

They’ll face East Limestone Saturday at 9 a.m.

% Mars Hill Bible 3, Addison 2: The Bulldogs’ spring ended Saturday following a close loss to the Panthers.