Campo Verde used the long ball in one inning and primarily small ball in another Tuesday in coming from behind for a 5-2 victory over Mesquite in a Division II softball game at Mesquite High.

It was the second power-ranking game contest between the teams this season -- both in a span of three weeks. Mesquite prevailed 10-3 back on March 25 in a game designated a freedom game. Tuesday's meeting had a bit more meaning since it counted in the section standings and both reside in the same section. Campo Verde is 9-0 in D-II  Section IV, a half-game ahead of Arcadia (9-1) for the section lead with 2 1/2 weeks left in the regular season.  Arcadia lost its first section game Tuesday, falling to Seton, 8-0. Campo Verde is 20-5 overall, 11-1 in power-ranking games. Mesquite dropped to 19-6, 10-4 prg. Mesquite is 8-3 in D-II Section IV.

The same pitchers faced off in this meeting as the one on March 25 -- Mesquite sophomore Taylor Cullen and Campo Verde freshman Myka Sutherlin. Sutherlin didn't pitch poorly in the 10-3 loss, but a couple of two-out errors led to eight unearned runs in that defeat.

Campo Verde's defense was much better in this one and Sutherlin was outstanding from the get-go despite giving up two run in the first. Mesquite took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first using an infield hit, a pop-up single by Kaitlynn Carter that dropped to the second-base side of second for an RBI and a Caroline Chilton RBI double to left.

Mesquite managed one hit the rest of the game as Sutherlin retired the final 10 batters in a row and 19 of 21 the final 21. Sutherlin's battery mate, Lauryn Henderson, got the lead back for good with a no-doubt, two-run homer to left in the top of the third. Campo Verde added two insurances runs in the sixth with four hits and a sacrifice bunt. Two were infield hits and the last was a sharp two-run single to right by Joee Romley. Romley had two hits and was on base when Henderson launched her home run.

"I know the score was lopsided the first time we played, but Myka pitched well in both games," Campo Verde coach Joe Delsante said. "She's been outstanding for us all year. I was glad to see us get those last two runs and get them executing some bunts. We had a game recently against Williams Field and tried to bunt six times and weren't successful with any. We got bailed out by Lauryn (Henderson's) home run to win that game."

Campo Verde was one of two teams from Section IV in Division II to advance to the state tournament last year and that was only because the Coyotes claimed an automatic berth by finishing second in the section to section champ Queen Creek and its automatic berth. Mesquite finished 13-15 overall last year and is hoping to continue to turn the corner and qualify for state this year. If the Wildcats do, it will be the first time in six years. This year's team is comprised of no seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen.

"Not much you can say, they beat us today," Mesquite coach Gloria Hernandez said. "Two hits beat us."