Pinnacle's Marissa Schuld rip 2nd of her 4 hits to center in win over Horizon. (AzPreps365 photo)

Not the best played game between teams grappling for a region title, but teams have to win a few ugly games sometimes.

#3 Pinnacle's bats did most of the talking Wednesday evening as the Pioneers cranked out 14 hits in defeating host and #7 Horizon, 10-7, in a 6A Desert Valley Region softball marathon. The game lasted 2 1/2 hours.

Pinnacle (24-5 overall, 15-2 power-ranking games) has a one game lead over Horizon (17-9-1, 12-5) in thei region. Technically, Pinnacle wrapped up the region title with the victory as it owns the tiebreaker even if Horizon defeats Pinnacle on Friday in their rematch. In that case the teams would both be 8-2 in region. A better conference record is the tiebreaker that favors Pinnacle.

The Pioneers produced a trio of three-run innings, the last coming in the sixth to break a 7-7 tie. Eleven of Pinnacle's 14 hits came courtesy of its No. 3 through No. 6 hitters. A pair of Horizon errors -- four total in the game - occurred back-to-back in the top of the sixth giving Pinnacle an 8-7 lead.

No. 3 hitter and senior Marissa Schuld, the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, drilled the fourth of her four hits to help bring two more runs home. Jessica Mabrey drove in Schuld with her second hit and second RBI of the night and Taylor Fawcett's infield single (her second hit and second RBI) capped the rally.

Schuld, who is arguably the state's best pitcher, has been limited pitching this year due to injury. Injury hasn't slowed her offensive ability as she sports a .569 average with 10 homers and 36 RBI.

Pinnacle Sophomore Morgan Smith, who has taken on the bulk of the pitching duties, struggled in the circle the first few innings. After Pinnacle grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, Horizon came back with four thanks in part to three walks in the inning and two hits. Smith walked four in the first two innings, but only two the final five. Smith finished with nine strikeouts and gave up only six hits. She also did her share at the plate with three hits and two RBI.

Horizon junior Morgan Leinstock took the loss despite some impressive numbers opposite the 14 hits. Leinstock fanned 12 and walked one. Four of the 10 runs she allowed were unearned. Kaity Woods and Neeley Bell drove in two runs each for Horizon with Woods the only player with multiple hits.

The teams meet again Friday afternoon at 4 at Pinnacle to close out the regular season. It may be a game Horizon needs to win to stay in the top eight in the power-rankings and earn a bye from April 25 play-in games.