As if scoring runs against a pitcher many consider one of the state’s best weren’t tough enough.

But Auburn Mountainview made the challenge almost impossible to meet when a two-out error in the second inning let six runs score during a 9-0 loss Tuesday night in a South Puget Sound League 3A contest at Enumclaw, said fastpitch coach Alicia Thompson.

“We had one inning that really shot us in the foot, and it’s hard to come back from that,” Thompson said. “We’re not a team that throws the ball around and makes those mistakes. It easily got into our heads. We’re just going to work on some mental toughness and coming back even harder next time.”

That support was more than enough for right-handed pitcher Quinn Breidenbach, who has signed with the University of Massachusetts. Especially when, in Thompson’s opinion, the umpire often was awarding Breidenbach with a strike on her riseball.

“The umpire was helping her out with where he was calling the pitches,” she said. “That’s always tough, and we weren’t connecting.”

Breidenbach, who struck out 16 batters, did not dispute that assessment.

“He had a really nice, high zone, so I guess that was a little bit helpful on my part, too,” she said with a laugh. “I think first-pitch strikes really helped me a lot. No walks was key.”

But Breidenbach also viewed this as a pivotal matchup for the Hornets, who have advanced to state in seven of the last eight seasons, to maintain their league dominance. With the victory, Enumclaw (9-1 overall, 8-0 league) moved into sole possession of first place.

“I went in with the mentality to shut them out, especially because they were in first place,” Breidenbach said. “I just wanted to dominate.”

The Lions (7-3, 6-1) suffered their first loss since a 5-0 setback March 18 against Everett. Auburn Mountainview made three errors in the second inning – and five during the game – that led to the Lions’ most lopsided loss of the season.

Breidenbach is used to the support – the Hornets have not won a game by fewer than three runs this season.

“I was really grateful that they could back me up like that,” she said.

Breidenbach kept the Lions to two hits.

“She has the perfect spot that she throws it, right at the chest, and it rises late,” Thompson said. “It is crossing the plate at a strike, but by the time we’re coming around to swinging, it’s coming up right in the chest, and it’s an impossible pitch to hit.

“She’s an ace.”

And one that Auburn Mountainview will have to find a way to hit to vie for the league championship. The Lions have another shot when they host Enumclaw at 7 p.m. May 12. Thompson said her team needs to be “more disciplined at the plate” in the rematch.

Breidenbach said she anticipates a challenge when the teams meet again.

“I would not underestimate them,” she said. “They’re a great team, and I know they will not take this loss lightly. They will come back strong.”

Thompson agreed that her team will recover from the loss.

“This was a bump in the road,” she said. “We’re still very optimistic for our season.”