Tuesday was the first visit for Queen Creek to the Desert Mountain Invitational Softball Tournament. For the Bulldogs opposition this day, Chandler, it was the second time.

Both have the same goal -- get better playing top competition. Both played solid games, but a four-run rally in the eighth inning by Chandler proved to be the difference as the Wolves edged Queen Creek, 7-4, on the first day of the 14th annual tournament played at Horizon Park in Scottsdale.

Queen Creek , which scored all of its runs (three) in regulation on ground-ball and line- drive home runs on one of  two Horizon Park fields that don't have temporary fences, was victimized by the same for the decisive runs. And oddly enough the homer came after the only error of the game by either side, giving Chandler's Alexis Leonard an unexpected at-bat.

Leonard  lined a hard shot past diving Queen Creek second baseman Ryland Estrada that normally would have been a single or double at best. The ball rolled all the way to the 300-foot  fence as Queen Creek outfielders chased it down to no avail. In another twist of fate it was Estrada who lined a home run to the gap in right center in the bottom of the seventh that rolled to the fence and tied the game at 3 forcing extra innings. Teammate Raianna Dobbs had a two-run, ground ball homer to left center in the fourth. 

"Those (ground homers) are frustrating things, but you have to live with them," Chandler coach Kim Higginbotham said. "They got a couple of those. It happens playing on a big field like this."

Chandler got timely hitting scoring six of its seven runs on two-out hits, Jordan Blakesley, Sharee Blomquist, Kayla Escobar and Vanessa Ybarra had an RBI each for the Wolves.

Other than the non-routine home runs, the game was well-played, particularly on defense by both sides.

"We've focused a lot on defense," Higginbotham said. "You have to get 21 outs whether they are on spectacular plays or routine plays. We played a solid game defensively."

Chandler's Kalli Ohton pitched all eight innings to get the win and improve to 2-2. Second baseman Escobar  Escobar hauled in four pop ups and had an assist. Jordan Blakesley, the Wolves catcher, made two nice catches on pop ups -- one on a foul ball in the eighth to help stamp out Queen Creek's final  threat. Blakesley also threw a runner out stealing in the sixth.

"This is our second year here and it's great," Higginbotham said. "The best of the best are here. It's a good challenge."

Queen Creek played the second of its four pool games in the tournament later on Tuesday. The Bulldogs, now 7-7,  weren't able to hold a big lead late and fell to Mesquite, 10-7.