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Red Level broke open a close game with a five-run fifth inning and downed Straughn, 10-3, in varsity softball action Thursday, March 9.

RLS pushed its record to 4-3 with the home win, while SHS fell to 2-6 on the year.

Melonie Harris and Kyleigh Bennett reached on errors and moved into scoring position with one out in the top of the first inning. Straughn could not take advantage when Kaitlyn Beverly turned a nifty double play. Elizabeth Cross scored on a miscue as Red Level took an early lead. Beverly knocked a two-run double and drove home Kennedy Lord and Bailey Green. Zoey Phillips made the score 4-0 with an RBI single before a pop-up ended the inning.

Madelyn Worley reached on a two-out error but was stranded after a strikeout by Green. Jade Wiggins set the home Lady Tigers down in order on three pitches, as the score remained 4-0 after two. Kalleigh Russell led off the third with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Harris. Maddie Williamson then put the visiting Lady Tigers on the scoreboard with an RBI single. Beverly kept the bottom half alive with a single, but it stayed 4-1 with three complete.

Blakeley Smith delivered a one-out double in the fourth and took third on a wild pitch. Worley grounded out but cut the deficit to 4-2 when Smith scored. Caroline Blackwell earned a walk until M. Williamson ended the frame with an unassisted double play. Cross took over in the circle and held SHS scoreless in the visiting fifth before RLS seized control with four hits and widened its lead. Green laced an RBI single as Beverly sent Lord and Amaya Williams home. Ke’Mariah Crittenden hit into a double play, and Beverly scored for a 9-2 lead after five.

Allyx Williamson opened the sixth with a double and scored on an RBI groundout by Kaitlyn McVay. Beverly lifted a sacrifice fly in Red Level’s half for the game’s final run. Straughn did not go quietly in the seventh and put two runners aboard. Cross rallied back for two strikeouts and sealed the deal.

Beverly finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs and two runs. Cross was 2-for-4 with three runs. Green grabbed the win and allowed two runs on three hits in four innings while striking out three. Cross earned the save with one unearned run on two hits and four strikeouts. M. Williamson went 2-for-4, and Russell had a 1-for-2 showing. A. Williamson and Smith were each 1-for-3 with one run. Wiggins took the loss with a complete-game effort and allowed 10 runs (five earned) on nine hits.

Straughn returns to the field Monday, March 13, with a JV/varsity area doubleheader against Pike County scheduled for 4 p.m. Red Level visits Georgiana for a varsity-only area matchup Tuesday, March 14, beginning at 4 p.m.