AUBURN- Brianna Pighin's deep, two-run single in a five-run Mount Rainier fourth inning snapped a 4-4 standoff in a 7-4 come from behind SPSL 4A North Division fastpitch softball win against Auburn at the Gsa Fields.

With the win, the talented Rams solidified their fourth place standing at 4-2 league and 5-3 overall as the Trojans fell to 2-4 in the North.

"Our team batting average is 100 points higher than last year," observed Ram head coach Ben Reindel. "Today, it was a little shaky, at first because we arrived late and only had 15 minutes to warm up. Jasmin has taken the role of our everyday big game pitcher. Our captains Tristen and Jasmin have taken the effort to lead by example and uplift the others. Six of our starting players are in their first or second year of playing here. On defense we're really making an effort to shore up every spot. According to some coaches, Jasmin may be the best pitcher in the league, We're definitely looking to make the playoffs and see what can happen, then."

Auburn grabbed the lead with a two-run first inning before Mount Rainier countered in the top of the third. Ciana Defore drew a base on balls with one out and eventually moved up to second base on a wild pitch. One out later Mariah Peterson singled to set up runners on first and third before scoring on a wild pitch to close the gap to 2-1.

In the home half of the inning, the Trojans rebounded to notch a pair of runs on a walk, double and and wild pitch to stream ahead 4-1.

Then came the furious fourth inning broadside from Mount Rainier. Consecutive singles by Jasmin Fulmore and Tristen Yong set up scoring opportunities. Left handed hitting Orion Schade belted a two-run double and Nise' Liusamoa followed with an RBI single to knot the score at 4-4. Up stepped Pighin to deliver the go ahead runs.

"I took an inside straight ball," said Pighin who finished with a 2-for-4 batting day, including a triple two RBI. "We can accomplish going to district and going to state."

Mount Rainier added a final tally in the seventh on Pighin's deep blast triple and Mariah Peterson's run-scoring ground out.

By then, starting pitcher Fulmore had taken control after a shaky first three innings. Over the course of the final four innings, Fulmore closed out Auburn on no hits and no runs on the way to a complete game four-hit win and 16 strikeouts.

"It took awhile to warm up, but I was seeing the batters again and becoming more familiar with them," she said. "We work together as team and make sure we play our game."

Schade had a nice day at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base. Yong was 2-for-4 with a double and a single. Rylee Lewis batted 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI for Auburn.