Cade Miles’ 2-run homer lifted Hartselle to a 5-3 win over Oxford to split the Class 6A AHSAA state semifinals doubleheader on Wednesday at Choccolocco Park to force a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday.

Oxford, the defending state champs and second-ranked squad behind No. 1 Hartselle, run-ruled the Tigers 10-0 in 5 innings in the series opener.

In Game 2, Hartselle entered the bottom of the fifth inning trailing the Yellow Jackets 3-2 before the rally to win.

“Our kids are real gritty and fight hard,” Hartselle coach Jake Miles said after his team lived to see another day. “The home run and the insurance run were big.”

Oxford opened the series behind senior catcher Forrest Heacock’s big game. Heacock had a pair of doubles and drove in 5 runs to lead Oxford.

“I can’t say enough about how our kids battled back after being on the deck from Game 1,” Miles said. “Oxford is a great baseball team. Nic Chumley pitched a heck of a game for us (in Game 2).”

In Game 2 with Hartselle up 2-0, Heacock drilled a double to left field driving in the tying runs in the third inning. The Jackets took the lead in the fourth when Reid Maniscalco stroked a single to left-center to drive in Canaan Whitman.

Maniscalco finished 2-for-3 with a double for Oxford with Heacock, Nick Richardson, Carter Johnson, Tide Gann and Whitman adding singles.

Cade Miles finished 1-for-2 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs for the winners. Jo Williamson was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and 2 runs scored. Cam Palahach, Lawson Williams and Peyton Steele all had an RBI for the Tigers. Steele was 2-for-3 at the plate.

Chumley earned the win, pitching 6.1 innings while allowing 3 runs – 2 earned – on 7 hits with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks. Andrew Coleman got the final 2 outs – both on strikeouts.

Whitman was saddled with the loss for Oxford as the second of three relievers of starter Richardson. Whitman gave up 2 earned runs on 3 hits in 1 inning. Hartselle got to Richardson early, getting 2 earned runs on 2 hits with a pair of walks in just one-third of an inning.

Gavin Griner earned the Game 1 win, allowing 4 hits in the shutout with 1 strikeout and 1 walk over 5 innings. Jace Meadows, who had a no-hitter in the quarterfinals last week, took the loss for Hartselle. Oxford scored 6 earned runs on 3 hits on Meadows, who struck out 3 and walked 2 in 1 inning.

Stars of the game: Heacock had 3 doubles and drove in 7 runs in the doubleheader. Chad Miles, who is the coach’s son, delivered a 2-run homer and scored 3 runs. In Game 1, Richardson was 2-for-3 for Oxford with 3 runs and an RBI and Judd Syer had 2 hits in 3 at-bats with a pair of runs.

Coachspeak: “We are heading home to Hartselle with the opportunity to come back and play at least one more game this season tomorrow. It was all hands on deck tonight. We will have to figure the strategy for tomorrow on the way home.”

Next: Hartselle and Oxford play a winner-take-all game Thursday at 4 p.m. at Oxford High. The winner advances to the state finals in Montgomery next week.