A lillte less than two weeks ago the playoff outlook for Pinnacle's softball team was dim. Three consecutive losses -- two by one run -- had the Pioneers sitting at 5-7 in the games that matter.

Pinnacle continued to regroup Friday and strengthen its run to postseason. The Pioneers took advantage of a trio of Gilbert errors, played good defense and ran the bases well in an 8-5 triumph over Gilbert in a Division I contest at Gilbert High.

"It's been a roller-coaster season for us," Pinnacle coach Ben Frank said. "We had some tough losses and it came down putting it on them to own the game and put a winning streak in motion. We have some kids that have been to the dance before. They want to get back there."

Pinnacle has won five consecutive games to improve to 19-12 overall and 10-7 in power-point games. Two of those five wins have come against top 10 teams (Gilbert and Desert Mountain). The Pioneers can put the finishing touch to their late season burst next week by beating North Canyon in their finale.

Pinnacle was outhit in the game, 10-9, but scored four unearned runs off of three Gilbert errors. Pinnacle scored twice in the first, third and sixth, building a 7-1 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth. A pair of RBIs from Willow Kalinen and one each from Katie McCallister and Jazmine Williams helped starting pitcher Bailey Brennan to a comfortable lead heading to the last of the sixth.  McCallister had two RBIs on the day.

Brennan walked the leadoff hitter in the sixth and Frank opted to replace her with Peyton Mierau. Mierau struggled with command. She walked three and gave up three hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Gilbert managed to cut the lead to 7-4 after six and was down 8-5 with one out and the go-ahead run at the plate.

Frank re-entered Brennan, who recovered from two infield hits to got the final two outs. Brennan got the win and technically the save as well as a quirk of high-school substitution rules.

Pinnacle helped itself with hustle and aggressive, but heads-up base running. Center fielder Shea Palmer lined a hit to right center and turned a double into a hustle triple. She scored on a sacrifice fly and wouldn't have had she not made it to third on her hit. Kalinen scored from third in the seventh, timing a look-back from second baseman Dani Nelson on a throw to first to beat the relay to home by a fraction.

Gilbert lost for just the fourth time all season. The Tigers are 25-4 overall and 14-2 in power-point games. The Tigers remain in the top five in the power rankigns despite the loss. Gilbert closes the season with games against Basha and Mesquite next week. Mackenzie Garretson ahd four of Gilbert's 10 hits -- all singles--  and an RBI. Teammate Elysia Mesa added two doubles and an RBI.

"We've sent a message to ourselves and everybody else playing the way we have lately," Frank said. "This is how we're capable of playing. We've been outhit a couple of games, but we've shown the ability to capitalize on other teams mistakes and make them pay. We need to keep it up."