It's been warm enough in the Valley lately a fire can ignite with little provocation. Horizon experienced that first hand as the Lady Huskies and Pinnacle battled with power-ranking games all that's left when the regular season ends in a month.

Pinnacle punched across four runs in fourth inning without the benefit of a hit and with the generosity of Horizon Monday afternoon to scratch out a 4-1 win in a Division I softball game at Pinnacle Park.

It was Pinnacle's second win over Horizon this season. The teams met in elite eight bracket play at the Desert Mountain Invitational nine days ago with Pinnacle using homers and 12 hits to take a 6-5 triumph. Pinnacle is now 13-2 overall and 4-0 in power-ranking games. Horizon slipped to 13-4, 3-1.

"We're doing what we need to do to make it happen," Pinnacle coach Kelly Loerakker said. "We had good at-bats, and made the most of that inning."

On Monday Pinnacle's bats weren't nearly as potent as the first meeting, but didn't need to be. Horizon's T Statman, who was roughed up for nine hits and six runs in the last meeting in less than five innings, cruised to the fourth and held a 1-0 lead. Statman allowed two hits and fanned six in the first three innings.

Pinnacle still had two hits after its four-run fourth, as it capitalized on a hit batter, walk, fielder's choice and three errors to do the damage. Pinnacle's Kourtney Pock, who launched a three-run homer off Statman in the 6-5 win, opened the fourth with the hit by pitch. Statman issued a walk next and the first of three errors was made as the Lady Pioneers opted to bunt the runners over, but ended up with runners at second and third and the tying run home.

A fielder's choice loaded the bases again. One out later Hannah Mabrey broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to left. The next two batters reached on fielding errors at second base improving the lead to the 4-1 final.

Pinnacle got solid, tandem pitching from Marissa Schuld and CC Cook. Schuld was the winner with five innings of work. She gave up four hits a run and fanned two. Cook, the winner in relief nine days ago, finished with two scoreless innnigs and three Ks to earn a save. Statman went the distance and allowed three hits, two walks and struck out nine.

Jenna Beeson had two hits for Horizon and Gabby Moreno the lone RBI with a sacrifce fly. Karlee Johnson had  two hits for Pinnacle.