EVENSVILLE — Once again Ashley Allen put Cleveland's softball squad on her back with her pitching and hitting to kept them atop the District 5-4A standings.
The again Roane State signee fired a complete-game three-hitter and blasted her eighth home run of the season to lead the 21st-ranked Lady Raiders to a 3-1 victory at Rhea County.
Cleveland (15-11, 3-0 District 5-4A) will return to Brenda Lawson Field to host East Hamilton Thursday and a district rain makeup with McMinn County Friday.
Although Cleveland managed just four hits on the night, four free passes and a couple of Rhea County (6-11, 0-2) errors helped out.
The Lady Raiders jumped on scoreboard immediately with a run in the game's opening at bat before adding another in the fifth frame and one in the top of the seventh.
Hitting .354 with an .800 slugging percentage, Allen's solo blast put her in the team lead with 26 RBI.
Allen improved to 7-3 in the circle, with a 2.24 earned run average, struck out three and walked a trio, while giving up just the one earned run as Rhea County scored in the bottom of the sixth.
Sophomores Landri Nelson and Lilly Mason, plus freshman Emily Patterson had the other three hits — all singles — for the visitors.
Furman signee Lily O'Bryan got on base twice with walks and completed the circle both times. O'Bryan and Nelson both had a stolen base.
Cleveland left seven "ducks on the pond," while the Lady Eagles stranded a half dozen.
Game Summary
District 5-4A
Tuesday, April 16
at Evensville
Cleveland       100  010  1 — 3 4 1
Rhea County     000  001  0 — 1 3 2
WP: Ashley Allen (7-3, 2.24 ERA) 7 IP, 3 Ks, 3 BB, 3 hits, 1 ER. LP: Olivia Day. HR: Ashley Allen (C). 2B: Allie Shaver (RC). RBI: Allen (C). Records: Cleveland 15-11, 3-0 District 5-4A; Rhea County 6-11, 0-2 District 5-4A.
