Cleveland appeared to have an upset in hand until third-ranked (DII-AA) Chattanooga Christian School put up a five-spot in its final at bat to pull out the narrow victory, at Lee University's Butler Field Wednesday.
After building a 7-4 edge, the Lady Raiders fell victim to the Chargers coming alive in the top of the seventh to claim a 9-7 win in a game that was rescheduled from Monday, due to field conditions.
Cleveland (7-7) will turn around and host No. 4-ranked Girls Preparatory School (10-3) Thursday at Brenda Lawson Field, while CCS (9-3) will entertain eighth-ranked Boyd Buchanan Friday.
LADY CHARGERS 9, LADY RAIDERS 7: Chattanooga Christian put up a pair of runs in the game's opening at bat before solo scores in the second and third innings.
Cleveland was able to get a run across in the bottom of the first and exploded for a five-run rally in the third to vault into the lead.
After tacking on another run in the sixth, it looked like an upset in the making, but the visitors quelled any thoughts of that with a five-spot of their own in the top of the seventh.
Kylie Black came on to throw the final 4.2 innings for CCS, shutting down the Cleveland attack with eight strikeouts and just three hits to earn the victory.
Millie Fox paced the Charger offense, going 4-for-4, plus drawing a free pass, driving in a pair of teammates and scoring once.
Addison Lewis got on base three times with a double and walking the line twice, plus plated a couple of runs and touching home once herself.
Nyla Halfacre and Black both went 2-for-4 at the dish, with the former stroking a double, driving in a pair and completing the circuit once.
Hannah Smith and Mary Katherine Flowers each knocked a one-base hit and drew a walk, notching an RBI anda run scored.
Along with a 13-hit attack, CCS took advantage of eight "freebies," leaving 11 "ducks on the pond."
Cleveland collected eight hits and a half dozen free passes.
Landri Nelson went 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring twice and driving in a run, while Lilly Mason also got on base thrice with a RBI-triple and a pair of base on balls, completing the circle once.
Klaire Hall drove in a couple of teammates with a hit, as Huntlee Dennison laced a run-scoring double.
GAME SUMMARY
Wednesday, March 26
at Butler Field
Lee University
CCS 211 000 5 — 9 13 1
Cleveland 105 001 0 — 7 8 1
Smith, Black and Layner; Hall, Dennison (3) and Mason.