Class 7A third-ranked Hoover won a pair of softball games on Friday to advance to the championship of Area 5.

The host Bucs (35-7-1) beat No. 10 Tuscaloosa County 10-1 and downed second-ranked Thompson 3-2, securing a spot in next week’s regional tournament.

No. 2 area seed Thompson beat No. 3 seed Vestavia Hills 3-1 in first round double-elimination bracket play while Tuscaloosa County and Vestavia Hills played an elimination game, the winner facing Thompson on Saturday.

Hoover’s Olivia Christian pitched six scoreless innings against Thompson then held off the Warriors for the win.

The Bucs got a run in the third against Thompson when Hannah Christian belted an RBI-double and added two runs in the sixth for a 3-0 lead on Mollie Hanson’s 2-run single.

Thompson scored its two runs in the seventh when Dailynn Motes doubled home Olivia Tindell and Kadyn Bush hit a sacrifice fly to score Motes.

Hoover scored all 10 of its runs in the first three innings and cruised to the victory over Tuscaloosa County.

Bella Foran had a hit and 4 RBIs while Hannah Christian had a hit, 3 RBIs and 2 runs. Lindsey Westhoven belted a solo home run, Ki Davis was 3-for-4 with a triple, 2 RBIs and 2 runs and Mollie Hanson was 2-for-4 with a double.

Kaitlyn Raines pitched the win, allowing 5 hits and striking out 5.

In other area tournament action:

CLASS 5A

Area 1 at Gulf Shores

Winners bracket

Gulf Shores (32-8-2) 15, B.C. Rain 0: Tia Titi had 3 home runs and 6 RBIs.

Gulf Shores 15, Elberta 0: Maddi Nelson, Titi and Anna Leigh Price each had 3 hits.

CLASS 4A

Area 15 at West Limestone

Winners bracket

West Limestone 15, Randolph 0: Aubrey Bethune, Lilly Bethune, Bryleigh Bates, Bella Birdsong and Addie Wallace each had doubles.

Westminster Christian (8-16) 15, St. John Paul II 0: Carleigh Gothart allowed 1 hit – to the game’s leadoff batter Skyler Mullins – and struck out 7 of the 13 batters she faced in the 4-inning win. AP Slayton went 3-for-3 with a home run and 3 RBIs to lead the Wildcats.

Elimination bracket

St. John Paul 9, Randolph 6

Area 16 at Brooks

Winners bracket

Wilson 3, Deshler 0

Brooks 12, Wilson 0: Abby Herndon pitched a 4-inning 2-hitter with 6 strikeouts and slapped a solo home run for the Lions. Faith Roberson went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, Baylee Darby tripled and drove in 3 runs.

Rogers 6, Central-Florence 5

REGULAR SEASON

Columbia 10, Mae Jemison 0: Emma Newby threw a 5-inning no-hitter, striking out 13 and walking 2. Malaysia Austin was 3-for-4 for the Eagles and Ka’Nijha Arrington had a 2-run sacrifice bunt in the 5-run third inning.