It can start with a tiny drip, followed by a steady flow and then a raging torrent. By then, there is nothing an opponent can do except hold on for dear life.

The floodgates opened wide for Phoenix Northwest Christian, which rode a seven-run fourth inning to a 10-0 softball victory over visiting Phoenix Arizona Lutheran on Tuesday (April 23) in a game shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.

The one-sided win for Northwest Christian (25-5) likely clinched the top seed in the Division IV state tournament that begins this weekend and continues next week. Arizona Lutheran (20-6), No. 3 in the power seedings entering Tuesday’s play, also figures to secure a high seed that would result in a first-round bye.

Softball and baseball pairings will be announced on Thursday (April 25) as part of a “bracket show’’ to be streamed live on AIA365.com. Softball will be announced from 2:30-3:30 p.m., and baseball will follow.

Northwest Christian’s Elizabeth Bostwick and Arizona Lutheran’s Jordan McClellan were locked in a scoreless pitchers’ duel over the first three innings.

The fourth inning brought big changes.

Northwest Christian’s Audra Pettit hit a one-out double. Then Brittany Zimmerman put down a sacrifice bunt, but the ball was thrown away. Another error followed, then two hit batters, a triple and two more doubles, and the Crusaders were suddenly up 7-0.

Northwest Christian finished it off with three runs in the fifth, the decisive run scoring on Brianna James’ sharp liner off the second baseman’s glove for a hit.

Bostwick finished with a five-hitter and a pair of strikeouts.

“That’s kind of the way it’s been for us most of the season,’’ said Northwest Christian coach Fred Haeger. “We get a hit and then things get rolling. You don’t really need power. All you need is a couple of hits.’’

Northwest Christian wrapped up its regular season on Tuesday. So now the Crusaders must wait about a week before their first game in the state tournament.

“A week off can be good, or it can go the other way sometimes. We’ll just have to keep our practices competitive,’’ Haeger said.