Jefferson saw a glimpse of the future in Game 1. Xavier saw some veterans come up big in the nightcap.

And when it was over, both teams walked away with impressive victories.

In the opener, Jefferson got home runs from freshman Liv Erickson and eighth-grader Lindsey Culver to key a five-run fourth inning that resulted in a 5-2 victory.

Xavier also scored all its runs in one inning of Game 2, plating four in the third, then relying on some solid bullpen work from senior Erin Drahozal and stellar defense over the final two innings to earn a 4-1 triumph.

"I was very happy with the way we hit in the first game," said J-Hawks Coach Brian Erbe. "We didn't make the adjustments we needed to make in the second."

Winning the second game was important for Xavier's confidence, according to Coach Nikki Gahring. A loss would have left the Saints at 1-5 overall and in Mississippi Valley Conference play.

"I've always known what they are capable of," Gahring said of her players. "I think some of them kind of had some doubts but this really solidified their confidence and showed what they could do. From this point on, it should just get better and better."

Jefferson's unexpected power barrage not only came from youngsters, it also came from the bottom of the order. The J-Hawks were the beneficiaries of two Xavier errors in the inning which gave Erickson and Culver their opportunities. After Hannah Towns singled in the first run, Tori Brandon reached on an error, bringing Erickson to the plate with two runners on.

She lined a Drahozal pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run homer. Two pitches later, Culver followed suit and the J-Hawks suddenly had a 5-0 lead.

"When you have a ninth grader and an eighth grader hitting home runs for you, that's big," Erbe said. "They are both great athletes and very good softball players. It bodes well for the future."

Xavier cut the gap to 5-2 in the fifth when Hannah Helms doubled home a pair, but the Saints would get no closer.

The J-Hawks' lone error of the nightcap was key in Xavier's big inning. Drahozal singled home Helms for the first run. Morgan Breitbach doubled Drahozal to third. Jamie Feltes reached on an error, loading the bases.

It became 2-1 when Drahozal beat Avery Guy's throw to the plate on Steph Weir's infield grounder. Charlotte Richards followed with a double to left-center, driving home two, upping the lead to 4-0.

Jefferson (5-1, 3-1) got one back in the bottom of the inning on Erin Kuba's RBI double.

The J-Hawks looked poised to add more runs in the sixth, putting runners on second and third with two outs. At that point Gahring replaced starting pitcher Kylie Oldridge with Drahozal. Culver skied Drahozal's first pitch to center, where Breitbach made the catch and fired a strike to the plate to cut down a sliding Towns.

For good measure, Saints right fielder Richards made a diving play to end the game.

"They were huge," Gahring said about the plays made by her outfielders. "Between games we talked about how we fell asleep a little bit on defense and that's what got their run going.

"That was my challenge to them," she added. "Morgan made a great catch and throw to Steph (Wehr), who made a great block and Charlotte's to end the game was a great effort."

Game 1

Xavier     000 020 0 — 2 6 4
Jefferson 000 500 x — 5 5 0

Erin Drahozal and Steph Wehr. Alyssa Olson and Maddie Hansen. WP — Olson. LP — Drahozal.

Game 2

Xavier      004 000 0 — 4 6 1
Jefferson 001 000 0 — 1 7 1

Kylie Oldridge, Erin Drahozal (6) and Steph Wehr. Alissa Good, Alyssa Olson (3) and Maddie Hansen. WP — Oldridge. LP — Good. Sv — Drahozal.