Perry's softball team spent much of Tuesday's contest with Desert Ridge relying on the hosts to help it score runs. When push came to shove in their final at-bat, the Pumas took matters into their own hands.

Perry erupted for five runs in the top of the seventh to post an 11-8 win over Desert Ridge in a windy Division I contest. The victory extended a hot streak for Perry, who has won seven of its last nine games. Included in that streak are a 5-2 finish (sixth-place finish among 56 teams) 10 days ago in the Tournament of Champions Invite in Bullhead City and a power-ranking win last week against defending D-I champ Sandra Day O'Connor.

On Tuesday -- after collecting six hits the first six innings -- the Pumas cranked out five hits in the seventh and sent 10 batters to the plate for their game-winning rally. Perry also got a strong pitching effort in relief from freshman Saige Stutz.

Perry coach Rob Hehe is enjoying the current run his team is making.

"I told them just now when it counted you guys came through," Hehe said of the offensive outburst. "When we played them the first time it was the opposite. We made a lot of errors and mistakes early and then they mounted a rally. We're on a good streak right now."

Perry (12-8, 4-2 power-ranking games) began the seventh (trailing 8-6) with four successive hits off Desert Ridge senior Bailey Klitzke -- a Tatum Johnson double, singles by Marissa Zacchio and Karissa Nader and triple by Alexis Hopper. Those hits plus a wild pitch gave the Pumas a 9-8 lead. Another wild pitch and RBI single by Chandler Walter capped the rally.

Stutz, who took over in the third for starter and sophomore Kenadee Rausch, scattered seven hits, allowed two runs and struck out nine to earn th win. She danced around trouble in the botom of the seventh allowing two singles and walk to load the bases. Stutz got Leah Molina to ground out to first for the final out.

"Saige has come up big for us," Hehe said. "She won three games in the tournament and has pitched very well. Havng her and Kenadee it's a blessing since they are young."

Walter, Johnson and Nader paced Perry at the plate. Walter, batting leadoff, walked three times in addition to her seventh-inning hit and scored twice. Johnson was 2-5 and Nader 3-4.

Molina had three hits and scored four times for Desert Ridge (13-7, 4-2 power-ranking games). Shaylee Ackerman was 3-4, inlcuding a three-run homer and Klitzke added three RBI (two sacrifice flys an an RBI single). Desert Ridge has stumbled some after an 11-1 start with six losses in its last 8 games. All those losses have come against teams with winning records (Desert Vista, Pinnacle, Ironwood Ridge, Red Mountain, Perry and Queen Creek).