True bounces in softball are one of the allures of playing on artificial turf, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be an odd play every once in awhile.

One such oddity occurred on Tuesday (April 16), when Phoenix Xavier Prep played host to Chandler Basha.

Xavier, ninth in the Arizona Interscholastic Association power seedings entering this week’s play, had overcome an early deficit with a three-run third inning and appeared headed for a win over No. 3 Basha.

Until . . .

With one out in the top of the sixth and a runner at first base, Basha’s Nicole Matta rapped a base hit to the outfield.

When one of the Xavier outfielders moved over to field the ball, she accidentally booted the ball and it rolled all the way to the fence.

Brooke Breland scored all the way from first base and Matta kept chugging around the bases. When she neared third, Basha head coach Scott Hoffmeyer waved her home and she made it.

Basha went on to score four more times, six in all in the inning, and picked up an 8-4 victory.

Basha raised its record to 24-3, while Xavier slipped to 19-3.

Basha used a pair of walks, a base hit and a throwing error to score a first-inning run off Xavier freshman pitcher Karlee Johnson.

Johnson settled down and kept the Bears off the board over the next three innings. Her teammates gave her a 3-1 lead in the third on run-scoring ground balls by Megan Ward and Amanda Preach and a sacrifice fly by Kendyl Melton.

Another Xavier error allowed Basha to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth.

The Bears then put together their big inning against Johnson and her replacement in the circle, Caitlin Dickman. Kylie Shull drove in the final two runs with a single just out of the shortstop’s reach.

Xavier picked up a run in the sixth on an RBI single by Ward, but by then it was almost too late. Basha pitcher Lynea Klemmedson recorded a strikeout with the bases loaded to escape further trouble. She gave up a walk and a hit in the seventh, but Xavier did not score.

Basha returns to action on Wednesday (April 17) with a home game against Gilbert Mesquite. Xavier will have a few days to regroup and then travel to face Scottsdale Chaparral on Friday (April 19).