By ROBERT AUGSDORFER

Sports Writer

NEELYVILLE – Area softball teams have been hearing Neelyville roar all season long and the latest team was East Carter on Thursday as the Tigers took a 12-2 win on their home turf and swept the fall season series over the Redbirds.

"Any time you get a win over East Carter it's a good day," Neelyville coach Cindy Siebert said. "They always put together a solid team over there."

The Redbirds were able to strike early with two runs in the top of the first, but Neelyville pitcher Dixie Cloud was able to shut them down the rest of the way.

"They beat us 11-1 last time we played them," East Carter coach Teresa Kearbey-LeGrand said. "The plan going in was to keep them off base as much as we could. We were able to come through early, but fell apart after that and that mostly comes down to that we're young and inexperienced."

Meanwhile, the bats were hot for Neelyville as the Tigers recorded 10 hits.

"We used a lot of small ball," Siebert said. "I'm really proud of how well we were able to lay down some bunts (Thursday)."

Using the small ball approach and taking advantage of five errors charged to the Redbirds resulted in runs for the Tigers. The hosts used a 7-run second inning in order the pull away.

Neelyville added three more runs in the third to take a 10-2 lead, but East Carter was able to put up a zero in the fourth as the Tigers threatened with runners on first and second with two outs, but a strikeout would end the rally.

After Cloud made quick work of the Redbirds in the top of the fifth, she came up to the plate with Ryleigh Moore standing on first after roping a lead-off single. Cloud hit a deep drive to center, but was mere feet away from ending it early and was held to only a single.

"I thought it was going to be gone, but the wind must've got it," Siebert said.

Moore ended up scoring on a double by Reese Dobbins and Parker Ernst drove in Cloud on a single to end the game.

Both teams will be back in action on Friday as Neelyville hosts Van Buren and East Carter will be back home playing Kellly.