Desert Ridge didn't hit with authority on Wednesday, but the Jaguars prevailed in the battle of the circle in a key section skirmish with Xavier Prep.

Bailey Klitzke tossed a four-hitter and Desert Ridge capitalized on a rocky Xavier second inning to post a 6-2 win over the visiting Gators in a meeting of Division I top-five softball teams.

The victory clinched the D-I Section III title for Desert Ridge, who improved to 23-7 overall and 14-2 in power-ranking games. The Jaguars are 6-0 i section play with one section game left. The best Xavier (17-5, 12-3) can finish is a tie for first in the section at 6-1. The Gators lose the tie-breaker due to the outcome of this game.

Both teams entered the game with lengthy winning streaks. No. 5 Xavier had won seven straight, including a come-from-behind,10-7, triumph over Hamilton on Tuesday. No. 3 Desert Ridge extended its streak to 10 wins in a row.

"'We've played well and needed to keep that going today," Desert Ridge coach Jennifer Broderick said. "Bailey had a great game. She's focused and dialed in. It's her senior year and tshe's ready to go out with a bang. Today was one of her best games of the year."

Klitzke, a four-year starter, was working on a one-hitter and shutout through five innings. She allowed three hits and two runs in the sixth and a bit of anxiety as well.  But with a runner at second, one out and two runs in, Klitzke got the final two outs of the sixth and set the Gators down in order on three ground balls in the seventh to close it out.

Desert Ridge got all the runs it would need in the second -- three -- without putting the ball in play much. Xavier freshman starting pitcher Kylie Rodgers issued three walks in the inning -- all on 3-2 pitches. With two out and the bases loaded, No. 9 hitter Jordan St. Germain was awarded first on catcher's interference to force in a run. A wild pitch socred the second run and the final run scored on Leah Molina's single to left.

Broderick praised her lineup, despite the Jags coming up with only six hits.

"We've been working hard on our approach, situations and swinging at the right pitches," Broderick said.  "We showed good discipline that inning. They helped us."

Xavier brought in Caitlyn Dickman, its top pitcher who went the distance to beat Hamilton, in the third inning for Rodgers. Dickman, who knocked in both of her team's runs with a double, kept Xavier in the game with four innings of relief. She allowed two runs on three hits in the fifth. Alyssa Lyon and Shaylee Ackerman knocked in the runs with a single and double, respectively. Desert Ridge tacked on an unearned run in the sixth. Xavier committed four errors and combined combined with the three walks in the second, doomed its chance of winning.

Desert Ridge got good news for the rest of the season in that starting catcher Sydney Broderick has been cleared to return to play next week. The junior has missed two-plus weeks and eight of the 10 wins after having surgery to repair a meniscus tear. Jennifer Broderick said  sophomore Holly Monson has done yeoman's work filling in behind the plate in Sydney's absence. Monson has played mostly in the outfield prior to working as catcher. She's continued to hit near her season average of .392 while playing an unfamiliar position.
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Xavier has three power-ranking games left. The Gators  Xavier host Red Mountain on Friday and are on the road April 25  at Liberty and April 26 at Mesa Mountain View. Desert Ridge has two games left -- home games April 25 with Campo Verde and April 27 vs. Chaparral.