by Chris Pfaff, Xavier Sportswriter

After defeating the Chandler Wolves 7-1 on Petznick Field Tuesday, March 11, Xavier Softball has outscored their first four opponents (all non-region games) 37-3.

They have accomplished this feat with just one senior on the team. The two pitchers helping keep the opponents at bay this season are a freshman and a sophomore. Over half the team are sophomores. Bright Future.

Getting back to 2025, Xavier struggled early offensively in Tuesday’s late-afternoon game. However, it was in the fourth inning that the Gators finally unleashed their offensive prowess.

Assistant coach Brian McNerney said they were having to adjust to the slow speed of Chandler’s pitching. Being used to higher-velocity pitching, Xavier had to learn to wait on the pitches a little longer.

The Wolves struck early, scoring on an fielder’s choice grounder to the Xavier shortstop by Chandler’s fourth batter of the first inning. Chandler leads 1-0.

The Gators drew a blank in the first inning, but a walk (Molly Frazier), two stolen bases (Frazier), and a triple (Leah Jollineau) evened the score at one apiece in the second inning.

SECOND INNING – XAVIER OFFENSE

Xavier and Chandler drew blanks in their respective halves of the third inning, so the score remained tied at one apiece.

However, in the fourth inning, the Gator Defense and the Gator Offense joined forces in a perfect storm to break the tie wide open.

TOP OF FOURTH INNING – XAVIER DEFENSE

BOTTOM OF FOURTH INNING – XAVIER OFFENSE

Over the final two and a half innings, frosh pitcher Sydney Root threw four more strikeouts to bring her game total to eight K’s. In addition, Xavier strung together some outstanding situational batting to tack on two more runs and finish the game on top 7-1.

FINAL TWO AND ONE HALF INNINGS