by Chris Pfaff, Xavier Sportswriter

The AzPreps365 Softball Rankings came out at noon Tuesday. Xavier held a #6 ranking; Desert Vista, #7. Tuesday afternoon’s score, however, did not reflect the closeness of the rankings. Xavier nailed down their fifth shutout of the season with a 9-0 shellacking of the Thunder at Petznick Field.

Four Sophomores and a Freshman produced the bulk of the offensive power.

• SO Angie Falls went 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs – including two doubles and a home run.

• SO Sariah McNabb went 2 for 3 with two RBI and one run – including a home run.

• SO Makenzie Latvaaho went 1 for 3 with two RBI and one run – including a double.

• SO Noelani Romo went 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run.

• FR Sydney Root went 3 for 4 with one run – including a double.

• SR Riley McKeever went 2 for 4 – including a double.

Xavier’s most productive batter of the game – Angie – also threw a four-hit shutout and struck out 16 batters (statistically more than two Ks per inning).

The game was a nail biter going into the bottom of the fourth inning. The Gators leading 1-0 was not all that comforting.

The warm blanket came in the form of four runs in the fourth inning:

• Double
• Bunt single
• RBI single to right field
• Two-RBI double to left center
• Two outs in a row
• RBI single

and Xavier now leading 5-0 heading into the top of the fifth.

The Gators would go on to score two more runs in each of the next two innings. Angie finished off the Thunder in the top of the seventh with two strikeouts in a row and a ground out to Noelani at third base.

Xavier’s next game will be played on Desert Vista’s home field this Thursday.