Notching its 20th win of the seasons, Cleveland exploded with 10-hit barrage, included a Collin Stuart grand slam, to plundered visiting Red Bank9-2 Wednesday evening, at Bill Talley Stadium.
After getting out of a jam in the top of the first, stranding a pair of Lion baserunners, the Blue Raiders put up its opening salvo with a pair of scores in the bottom of the frame.
Senior River Briggs and sophomore Sam Coleman opened the attack with back-to-back singles. After a pop out and a double steal, senior Jonas Ernest brought home Briggs with a sacrifice fly.
Junior Caden Tippens plated Coleman with a two-out double to left field.
The Lions loaded the bases in the top of the second, but once again were denied before the Raiders once again put up a crooked number in their half of the frame.
After an Red Bank error allowed senior Charley Atha to reach base, and a passed ball allowed him to get to second, the Lions looked like they were going to get out of the jam with two quick outs.
However, after Briggs was "plunked" and Coleman drew a walk to jam the sacks, Stuart emptied them with a "jack" over the left field wall.
The hosts were able to push their advantage to 8-0 with two more scores in the third when Roane State commit Tyler Gardner "took one for the team" and then stole second before junior Owen Goglio ripped a double to plate him.
After a single by classmate Jayden Bates, Goglio was able to score on a ground out by Briggs.
The Lions were finally able to get the goose egg off the top of the scoreboard in the fourth as walk to Brayden Stultz came back to haunt as he was able to complete the circuit three batters late on a ground out by Trammell Davis.
Cleveland tacked on its final run in the bottom of the inning when back-to-back, two-out singles by Tippens and Garner set the stage for courtesy runner Braleyn Pratt (for Tippens) came in after a wild pitch and a passed ball.
Red Bank was able to add the final score of the night in the top of the sixth when Stutz and Hayden Knam had back-to-back one-base knocks before Davis ripped a two-out double.
Raider starter junior Ethan Guy picked up the victory, tossing four frames, overcoming five free passes and scattering a trio of hits, but giving up just one run.
Senior Jaxon Hafley came on to preserve the win, firing the final three innings, walking a pair and allowing four hits and a run.
While Knam took the loss for the Lions with four of the eight runs allowed not being earned, TayVeonn Bonds held the hosts to zero earned scores, while striking out three and walking only one in the final three frames.
Red Bank committed five errors in the contest, while Cleveland played miscue free ball.
GAME SUMMARY
Wednesday, April 23
at Bill Tally Stadium
Red Bank 000 101 0 — 2 7 5
Cleveland 242 100 x — 9 10 0
WP: Ethan Guy 4 IP, 2 Ks, 5 BB, 3 hits, 1 ER.
LP: Hayden Knam 3 IP, 2 Ks, 1 BB, 6 hits, 4 ER. HR: Collin Stuart (C). 2B: Tramell Davis (RB); Owen Goglio, Caden Tippens (C). RBI: Davis 2 (RB); Stuart 4, River Briggs, Jonas Ernest, Tippens, Goglio (C). RECORDS: Red Bank 16-15; Cleveland 20-10.