CLEVELAND, Tenn. — After going 4-1 during Spring Break Cleveland continued their success with a victory over archrival Bradley Central Monday evening, at the McKenzie Baseball Complex.
Taking advantage of five hits, a half dozen free passes and a pair of Bear errors, the Blue Raiders held off the hosts by a 4-1 tally.
The teams will square off again this evening at Bill Talley Stadium, with a 7 p.m. first pitch.
Three straight two-out hits in the game's opening at bat put Coach Brent Tucker's Cleveland crew on top in a hurry.
After Jonas Ernest worked a walk and stole second base to open the contest, Bradley starter Brody Stone induced a ground out and then notched a strike out before the trio of clutch hits.
Owen Goglio brought in Ernest with a ringing double to left-center field before coming in himself when Collin Stuart stroked a shot back up the middle.
Sam Coleman followed with a solid single himself, but he and Stuart were stranded when the third out was recorded on a fly out a moment later.
Playing their usual "small ball," Coach Travis Adams' Bears were able to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second.
Colby Stott opened the at bat by drawing a base on balls and moved to second on a wild pitch before Jonathan Alomar bunted him up. Carson Stott brought his twin brother home with the lone Bear score on an infield single.
The Raiders tacked on solo runs in the top fifth and sixth frames.
River Briggs completed the circuit with a single to open the sixth, a pair of balks by the Bear pitcher, setting him up to score on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Gardner.
The game's final run came on a two-out double by Briggs, scoring pinch runner Braleyn Pratt, who had come for Charley Atha, who had walked.
Atha earned the pitching win, tossing the first four frames, striking out four, walking three, plunking one and scattering a trio of hits.
Ethan Guy got the hold with a couple of shutout innings on the bump, allowing just two hits, while Gardner went to the mound for the final three outs.
Carson Stott got on base three times for Bradley with a pair of single, plus a "freebie."
Spane Bristol helped out with a single and a base on balls, with Tyler Cook and Stone adding the other Bear safeties.
Stone took the pitching loss, going five frames, allowing four hits, walking one and hitting another, while striking out a pair.
GAME SUMMARY
Monday, March 17
at McKenzie Baseball Complex
Cleveland 200 011 0 — 4 5 0
Bradley Central 010 000 0 — 1 5 2
Atha, Guy (5), Gardner (7) and Tippens; Stone, Alomar (6) and Stott. Records: Cleveland 9-5; Bradley Central 6-5.