Pinnacle's sizzling start to the 2016 softball season has been anchored by pitchers Marissa Schuld and CC Cook.

Pinnacle coach Bobby Pena didn't divulge the identity of who would start Tuesday's rematch with Xavier Prep until prior to pregame, but knew all along who it would be.

Schuld, the losing pitcher in a 4-2 loss in the title game nine days ago against Xavier in the Sunrise Mountain Invitational final, got the nod and was spot on. She tossed a five-inning ,no-hitter and provided the only run needed with a first-inning home run as the Pioneers coasted to a 14-0 triumph in a Division I game at Pinnacle.

"We played three games the day she pitched the first time," Pena said. "She pitched two of those and wasn't at full strength. I wanted to give her the opportunity to be fresh and pitch this time."

The game figured to be a dandy with both teams sporting 8-1 records. But as can be the case in softball and baseball, routs can happen when evenly-matched teams collide. That was the case in this one. All of Pinnacle's starters collected a hit, scored a run or drove in a run and two subs late in the game added a hit apiece.

Schuld, a sophomore, retired Xavier (8-2 overall, 3-1 power-ranking games) in order in the first and responded in the No. 3 slot in Pinnacle's order with a two-out homer to left off Xavier pitcher Erica Richards for a 1-0 lead after one inning. It was Schuld's second home run of the season. She faced on batter over the minimum (a third-inning walk to Melissa Fedorka) and finished with five strikeouts. Xavier did not get the ball out of infield.

"I wanted to pitch in this game bad," Schuld said. "I felt good. If one of us is off I know (Cook) is there to back me up." 

Pinnacle (9-1, 4-0) collected 11 hits off Xavier starter Erica Richards. But Xavier also didn't help Richards. The Gators made seven errors -- four in a 10-run, second inning that drained the intensity quickly. Karlee Johnson, Jackie Kelley, Alex Cook, McKenna Adams, Karrie Barnes and Nicole Amodio had RBI in the second inning as the Pioneers sent 14 batters to the plate.

Richards did not pitch against Pinnacle in the Feb. 27 game. Her tag-team pitching partner Caitlin Dickman was the winning pitcher in that one.

"(Xavier) is a good team, a good defensive team," Pena, the former longtime coach of the Gators, said. "What happened defensively with them today is uncommon."

Both teams are back in action Wednesday (March 9). Pinnacle hosts Centennial while Xavier entertains Mountain Ridge.