Three home runs in the first four innings weren't enough for 4A Mesquite to hold the lead over 5A Williams Field in their Friday afternoon clash.

Mesquite, averaging 11 runs a game, found itself trailing, 5-3, late. Never fear as the steady-hitting Wildcats batted around and scored five runs in the sixth inning to knock off Williams Field, 8-5, at Williams Field High.

Mesquite, No. 6 in the current 4A power rankings, played its first game in a week. The win was its sixth in row, improving the Wildcats to 11-1. Williams Field dropped to 6-5 and has a fight on its hands to qualify for state in 5A. The Black Hawks were ranked No. 16 in 5A on Friday.

Mesquite coach Jeff Holland is confident enough at this juncture of the season that at some point in a game offense will respond.

"It's been that way all year," Holland said. "They stay with an approach and stay with a plan. There is no panic. They showed they could come back. We haven't had to do that very often this year."

With only a single to go with the trio of homers through five innings, the sixth inning was vintage Mesquite. The Wildcats saw eight of the nine batters in the five-run uprising reached base (two of of the outs were on the base paths) against Williams Field relievers Crew Cornell and Kyle Whittet. Five hits and two walks combined for the tallies. Levi Morrison's pinch-hit RBI double pulled Mesquite within 5-4 and Wyatt Wright's two-run single past a drawn-in infield made it 6-5. Zach Allen then doubled and KB Bell tacked two RBI with a single to complete the rally.

The long ball was Mesquite's offense of choice early with all of its home runs solo shots. Thomas Vogiatzis homered in the first and Tariq Freeny an Chris Robles went yard in the fourth. Those were the only hits for the Wilcats to that point and they trailed, 5-3, after Williams Field answered with a run of its own in its half of the fourth.

Mesquite threatened in the fifth, but left the bases loaded with a hit, a runner reaching on an error and one getting aboard on a passed ball. 

While Mesquite stayed stuck on three runs, starting pitcher Zach Zwaschka was settling in and keeping his team within striking distance. Zwaschka shut down what may have been a multiple-run inning for Williams Field in the fourth, reacting quickly to snare a bunt attempt that might otherwise have loaded the bases with no outs. Instead a double play ensued. Zwaschka allowed a single and walk and no runs over the last three innings to earn a complete-game victory.

"This was Z's best game," Holland said. "He's usually been near the pitch-count limit in the fifth or sixth inning. He only threw 92 (98) pitches today, and was tough down the stretch."

Robles and Allen had two hits apiece for Mesquite. Caden Crippen led Williams Field with two hits and reached base a third time via hit by pitch. Starting pitcher Jackson Clifford and Hall led the Black Hawks with 2 RBI apiece.

Mesquite is on the road Saturday for a lengthy trip to Nogales and home on Tuesday vs. Greenway. Williams Field resumes San Tan Region play Tuesday at Gilbert High.