CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Holding off a late rally with a pair of runs in its final at bat, fourth-ranked (DII-AA) Girls Preparatory School came away with a 5-3 win over Class 4A Cleveland High, at Brenda Lawson Field.
The Bruisers (11-3) sent seven batters to the dish in the opening at bat, but only freshman Calieah Reyes was able to complete the circuit with an RBI-hit from eighth-grader Sky Marshall for an early advantage.
GPS stretched their edge with a pair of scores without benefit of a hit in the top of the third.
Reyes walked and moved to third when Adrianna Reyes, also a ninth-grader, dropped down a bunt and the throw got away.
After the next two batters got out without the base runners being able to move up, a second Cleveland miscue allowed both to come in to score.
The Lady Raiders (7-8) got the goose egg off the home half of the scoreboard when junior Brylee Cisco opened the bottom of the third with a double. After being bunted up by freshman Ariyah Huffman, she scored an an errant throw.
After scoreless fourth and fifth frames, Cleveland rallied to even the s core in the sixth.
Senior Allison Farnsworth started the comeback with a solid single to left and moved up on a wild pitch. After classmate Klaire Hall drew a base on balls, the duo advanced a base on another wild pitch.
Senior Aspen Tipton-Williams brought both runners in with a single to knot the score at 3-all, but the Lady Raiders left the sacks jammed.
GPS wasted no time regaining control, opening the top of the seventh with a double by sophomore Aaidyn Lawrence, a single by freshman Jayla Gladden. With runners on the corners, Lawrence scored and Gladden went to second on a throwing error. Calieah Reyes followed with a double to bring in Gladden with the game's final run.
Cisco and Tipton-Williams were the only Cleveland hitters get on base three times each, the former going 2-for-3, plus drawing a walk, while the latter plated a pair of runs on her hit, while also walking the line twice.
Farnsworth and Hall both posted a hit and a base on balls, while junior Landri Nelson drew a pair of free passes.
Both Reyes girls had a hit and a free pass to get on base twice for GPS.
Marshall and Hall went the distance in the circle for their respective teams.
The Bruiser hurler struck out six, walked seven, gave up five hits, but just two earned runs.
Toeing the rubber for Cleveland, Hall notched a pair of Ks, handed out just two walks and allowed a half dozen hits and three earned runs.
GAME SUMMARY
Thursday, March 27
at Brenda Lawson Field
GPS 102 000 2 — 5 6 2
Cleveland 001 002 0 — 3 5 3
WP: Sky Marshall 7 IP, 6 Ks, 7 BB, 5 hits, 2 ER. LP: Klaire Hall 7 IP, 2 Ks, 2 BB, 6 hits, 3 ER. 2B: Aaidyn Lawrence, Calieah Reyes (GPS); Hall, Brylee Cisco (C). RBI: Reyes, Marshall, Ansley Bratcher (GPS); Aspen Tipton-Williams 2 (C). SB: Jayla Gladden 2, Reyes, Marshall (GPS); Cisco (C). LOB: GPS 5; CHS 9. RECORDS: GPS 11-3; Cleveland 7-8.