Queen Creek's baseball team continued an early-season surge Wednesday by taking the suspense out of the game early against Mesa High.

The Bulldogs scored seven runs in the first inning and that proved the difference the rest of the way in an 11-4 victory over the Jackrabbits in a 6A non-region game at Mesa High. Queen Creek improved to 4-1 and won its third game in a row. The loss was the first for Mesa (2-1).

The opening seven-run outburst saw Queen Creek send 11 batters to the plate against Mesa starter David Cullimore (1-1), who won his first start last week against Dobson. The first eight batters reached base - three hits, two hit batters, one walks and two errors - before Cullimore got three outs in a row. The two hit batters and walk started the inning and clean-up hitter Braydon Rogers initiated the scoring with a bases-loaded triple to the rightfield corner. Carson Bembridge, Peyton Holyoak and Sebastian Tomerlin collected the other RBI in the frame.

"We just froze at the beginning," Mesa coach Ray Figueroa said. "We were tight. I told them we can play with anybody. They saw that after the first inning. But the first inning was too much to overcome."

Figueroa thought Cullimore would be done by the second inning, but he gave up only one run over the next four innings. Cullimore managed to last 6 1/3 innings.

Hitting standouts for Queen Creek started with leadoff hitter and center fielder Tomerlin. Tomerlin contributed in all five of his at-bats. He was hit by a pitch, scored and also delivered a sacrifice fly to finish off the first inning. His next three at-bats all resulted in singles. Tomerlin scored three times and swiped three bases. 

Next up was catcher Carson Bembridge. Bembridge was 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI. First baseman Caden Brewer finished 2-4 with an RBI.

Queen Creek coach Mikel Moreno, who starred in football and baseball for Mesa High in the early 1990s, found satisfaction mostly with the mound work of starter and winning pitcher Daniel Smith.

"Our pitchers have carried us, they've been our savior this year," Moreno said. "They go out and execute. They aren't overpowering, but throw strikes and work fast. Only one walk today and a couple home runs. Solo shot, one a two-run shot. No big deal."

Smith worked four innings and allowed five hits, three runs (two earned), one walk and two strikeouts. Marcos Carrasco and Braden Belcastro finished up by surrendering two three hits, no walks one run and striking out five. Queen Creek has given up only 10 runs in five games with the four on Wednesday a season-high.

Top hitter for Mesa was Ashten Webb (2-2, double, home run and hit by pitch twice). Cleanup hitter Noah Rogers also homered, a two-run shot in the second inning.