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With a few lineup changes the Lady Raiders were in top form, especially with pitcher Leah Dietrich. She captured the win for Brookville (6-5) after allowing three runs on eight hits. She also fanned eight and didn't walk a batter.
For Clearfield, it was their fifth one-run loss of the season.
"We just can't seem to get over that hump," Clearfield head coach Bob Dixon said.
In fact, the bottom half of the Lady Bisons lineup struggled to get more than a slow-moving grounder. At one point, Dietrich struck out four consecutive batters.
Taking the loss for Clearfield (5-5) was Toni Brubaker, who pitched six innings to give up four runs on six hits. She struck out four and walked one.
The Lady Bisons were first to push a run across during the first inning.
Alanna Luzier started the game with a single and was advanced by both Brittany Pataky and Nikki Collins. However, it was a Mandy Rowles single that allowed Luzier to cross the plate.
The following inning, Dietrich sent two down looking and one swinging to retire the side.
Megan McKinley started the ball rolling for Brookville in the second inning with a single to left field, to put a runner on for Brynna Hetrick.
Hetrick knocked a shot to Clearfield third baseman Courtney Morgan, who over threw first base. With no one to back up Pataky at first, Hetrick reached on the error while McKinley rounded second.
With the ball in the outfield and plenty of time, McKinley was able to score and Hetrick was able to take third. With a runner in scoring position, Dietrich came up with Brookville's second hit of the night to put the Lady Raiders up 2-1.
"I moved Brynna (Hetrick) down the lineup for today and she was more relaxed. Everyone seemed comfortable and more relaxed, so we hit the ball well," Brookville head coach Greg Fenstermaker said.
McKinley led the Lady Raiders by going 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles, while almost everyone else in the order was able to knock out a hit. Courtney Keth ended the game with two RBIs.
Clearfield recaptured the lead during their next time at the plate after stringing together three hits.
Luzier started with another single, and scored when Collins pounded the ball into deep left. Rowles followed up with another RBI single to make the score 3-2.
Clearfield was led at the plate by Luzier, who went 3-for-4 while Rowles ended the game 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
Brookville regrouped during the bottom of the third to take back the lead.
Sarah Angiolelli started the two-run rally with a single up the middle and then stole second, while Amanda Liebman followed by hitting the ball to the same spot.
Liebman stole second in the hopes of getting Clearfield to throw the ball, but the bases were loaded when Carlie Cook drew a walk.
With the bases full, Keth drove the ball past Collins and Luzier, who tried to dive for the ball but fell short of their mark. That hit scored two more runs to give the Lady Raiders a 4-3 advantage.
Brookville suffered a close call in the fifth when the Lady Bisons loaded the bases. However, the Lady Raiders kept their cool as Dietrich struck out Julie Colesar for the second out, while a fielder's choice by Tasha Swonger got Lias out at second to retire Clearfield.
"That was our best game this year," Fenstermaker said. "They didn't panic and stuck in there to win. It was definitely a good top to bottom game today."
Clearfield had a base runner in both the sixth and seventh innings but couldn't't get them to scoring position. Ashley Modany made some big plays in the outfield that kept Clearfield from being able to tag up for extra bases as Brookville secured the 4-3 victory.
In Tuesday's other games:
DuBois Central Catholic 8,
Sheffield 4
At DuBois, the Lady Cardinals piled on the runs early then coasted to an 8-4 win over Sheffield.
DCC (5-4) scored four runs in each of the first two innings to jump out to an 8-0 lead before surrendering three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to the Lady Wolverines.
Abbie Heigel led the Lady Cardinals at the plate going 3-for-3 with a double, triple and two RBIs while Beth Pernesky and Gabby Saldutte each had a pair of hits. Tanecha Campbell also homered in the game and drove in two runs.
Heigel started the game on the mound allowing one hit while striking out five in two innings of work. Bekka Stroughton came on and got the win alllowing four runs, one earned, while striking out 11 and walking just one.
DuBois Central Catholic will travel to Brockway this afternoon.
Elk County Catholic 13,
St. Marys 3, 5 innings
At St. Marys, Amber Schaefer allowed just four hits as the Lady Crusaders topped cross-town rival St. Marys, 13-3, in five innings.
Schaefer went the distance to earn her fifth win of the season. She allowed three runs, none earned, on four hits while walking none and striking out one.
Laken Lenox led the ECC offense with three hits while Andie Beveridge tripled. Andrea Brem and Casey Reed both had a pair of hits as well.
Elk County Catholic (6-3) will host Sheffield this afternoon.
