BRADENTON, Fla. — Owen Lovell smacked his 12th home run of the season, Kade Williams remained perfect on the mound and Cullman earned its first win at the IMG National Classic with a five-inning, 13-3 victory over Jesuit (Calif.) on Wednesday.

The Bearcats (21-6), who were smarting from one-run losses the first two days of the tourney, will meet IMG Academy Blue in the fifth-place game Thursday at noon (Central Time).

Lovell got Cullman’s offense going early with a two-run shot in the first inning. It was the Alabama commit’s third homer of the Classic and moved him within two of the career-high 14 he hit as a freshman in 2014.

And Lovell’s junior season is still far from over.

“It’s crazy when you think about it,” Cullman coach Brent Patterson said.

The Bearcats were prone to big innings, piling on three runs in the second and six in the fourth. Lovell added a sacrifice fly and RBI triple, Levi Thomas plated one with a three-base hit of his own, Caleb Lipsey and Kolby Robinson each drove in a couple of runs, and Jacob Heatherly and Carter Bowen both recorded an RBI. Grayson Taylor scored a run.

“It was a lot better,” Patterson said of his squad’s offense. “It was nice to go out and square some balls up.”

The onslaught was more than enough for Williams to steer through all five innings and improve his personal pitching record to a spotless 6-0.

“We needed innings today,” Patterson said. “The fact he went out there and gave us a complete game is huge.”

Thursday’s finale will mark the end of Cullman’s stay in Florida.

Patterson isn’t exactly keen on leaving.

“No school. We’re waking up, having breakfast, going and practicing before the game,” he said. “It’s been pretty nice — other than two games we feel like we should’ve won. Other than those, it’s been a great trip. I could get used to this.”

Prep Softball

Cullman closed up shop at the Gulf Coast Classic II with a sterling 6-1 record following a 4-2 loss to Class 4A No. 1 Curry on Wednesday.

The Lady Bearcats (12-7), who cracked the top eight of a massive 52-team field, were fresh off wins against American Christian Academy and Goodpasture (Tenn.) earlier in the day, not to a mention a 4-0 mark in pool play spread over Monday and Tuesday.

“This week was our turning point,” said Cullman coach Stephanie Conner, whose squad is seeking a second straight trip to the 6A state tournament. “We used the time away to bond and everything started to fall into place. The girls really came together and we are really looking forward to the second half of our season.

Claire Jenkins (RBI), Tiffani Schwaiger (RBI), Elli Dixon (double), Olivia Schwaiger (double), Sierra Easterwood and McKensi Burks all kicked in a hit.

Olivia Schwaiger collected the loss, scattering a strikeout, a walk, seven hits and four runs (two earned) over five innings.

Cullman 5, American Christian Academy 3

Dixon and Burks both went 2 for 3 with an RBI to help the Lady Bearcats stave off 3A’s 10th-ranked team.

Olivia Schwaiger (two RBIs), Taiya Ponder, Easterwood and Hannah Morton (two runs) had hits. Tiffani Schwaiger had an RBI.

Olivia Schwaiger picked up the win after tossing a five-inning complete game. She fanned one, walked none, and allowed eight hits and three runs (two earned).

Cullman 13, Goodpasture (Tenn.) 3

The Lady Bearcats used 14 hits to overwhelm their neighbors from the north in their first game of the day.

Dixon (double, three RBIs) and Ponder (three runs) were each 3 for 3, while Easterwood (two RBIs) and Morton (RBI) joined the 1.000 club with 2-for-2 displays. Olivia Schwaiger sported a double and four RBIs, and Jenkins clubbed a solo home run. Tiffani Schwaiger and Burks added hits.

Olivia Schwaiger set down seven batters on strikes and yielded a walk, four hits and three runs (one earned) in the win.

West Morgan 9, Fairview 0

The Lady Aggies’ elimination Wednesday morning did little to sour coach Brian Simmons’ mood.

Fairview finished the Gulf Coast Classic 2-3 with a victory apiece on Monday and Tuesday.

“It was a fun time,” Simmons said. “The girls played great. Spent a little time on the beach. You can’t beat that.”