Cedar Rapids Xavier erupts for 12 third-inning runs in regional softball rout

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Xavier just needed a second tour through its lineup.

After two scoreless frames, the Saints sent 16 batters to the plate in a 12-run third inning that eliminated Grinnell (8-26), 12-0 in three innings, in a Class 4A softball regional quarterfinal Thursday night at Bob Erusha Field.

'With this team especially, once somebody gets a hit, two hits in a row, they really just ignite and take off from there,' Xavier Coach Nikki Gahring said. 'Up and down the lineup, any of them can hit line-drive singles, line-drive doubles. It just usually takes that one, two hits and things just kind of go from there.'

Xavier (22-17) collected a pair of hits in each of the first two innings, but Grinnell sophomore pitcher Macy Harris (6-9) managed to escape without damage. Once the Saints adjusted to Harris' changeup and inside-outside location, the scoreboard operator received a thorough third-inning workout.

'When we're patient, you can really see a difference in the game,' senior Charlotte Richards said. 'How much better we do with hitting and just our energy, we're much more hyped. Good things happen when we're patient at the plate.'

Richards began the home half of the third inning with a double, then scored the first run of the game during a ground ball to the left side of the infield by junior Katie Langholz. Sophomore catcher Charli Patten laced a hit to center field that scored seniors Cassie Himmelsbach and Hannah Helms for a 3-0 lead with one out.

'We started seeing the ball better, we started reading off the pitcher's hand and we just made contact better,' Patten said. 'When the team is all hyped up, we hit better as a team.'

Eleven players in a row eventually scored and seven of the nine batters in the Xavier lineup notched two third-inning plate appearances. Sophomore Jenae Marshall and Langholz each posted an RBI with bases-loaded walks, while Keera Ball scored when Himmelsbach was hit by a pitch.

Richards pushed the lead to 7-0 when her long drive caromed off the glove of the Grinnell center fielder and scored Hannah Williams and Marshall. Ball, Helms and Williams each notched RBI singles.

Xavier starting pitcher Maria Steffen (14-7) yielded one hit and struck out three.

'She was looking confident,' Patten said. 'She was hitting her spots very well.'

After an 8-10 start to their season, the Saints have won 14 of 21 games overall and are 7-3 in their last 10 contests.

'We're on a roller coaster that is only going up,' said Richards, who is still deciding on a college volleyball destination for the fall between Missouri-St. Louis, Kirkwood and others.

Xavier visits No. 11 Adel ADM (19-15) in a 4A semifinal Saturday at 7 p.m.

'We'll be ready for them,' Gahring said. 'The girls like playing on the road. They like traveling together and singing and carrying on together as a team. They'll be loose and ready to attack for sure on Saturday.'

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