Mesquite and Skyline softball did a good job battling the elements -- mainly wind on Friday -- and played a nailbiter for both sets of fans in the seesaw affair.

It was Mesquite's two big innings -- a six-run third and a five-run sixth -- that helped the Wildcats slip past Skyline, 12-11, in a Division II Section III game at Mesquite.

Mesquite's five-run outburst in the sixth came on the heels of giving up four runs and the lead to Skyline in the top of inning. Unlike its third-inning rally, Mesquite's sixth inning production was all done through hitting. The Wildcats sent 10 batters to the plate and stroked six consecutive hits with one out to score five of the six runs. Brittany Holland's RBI single broke an 8-8 tie and Sam Soto followed the with the game's only round-tripper -- a two-run shot to left. The teams combined for 28 hits.

"Sam was upset she hadn't had a hit up until then," Mesquite coach Gloria Hernandez said. "I told her as she rounded third it's when you get a hit that's important. That was a big one."

Soto, the Wildcats cleanup hiitter, ripped a relatively low, line-drive homer. It was struck plenty well to go out with slight help from a shifting wind that was blowing in at hitters the first few innings. Other RBI hits in the inning came from Caroline Chilton and winning pitcher Taylor Cullen. Kaitlyn Carter led Mesquite's 15-hit attack going 4-for-4 and scoring three runs. Ashley Michelena, Chilton, Holland and Lissette Sotelo had two hits apiece.

Skyline (11-15 overall, 7-7 power-ranking games) grabbed a 4-0 lead through 2 1/2 innings. Two-run singles by Madi Roberts in the second and Alisa Couch in the third gave pitcher Kaitlyn O'Day a nice lead.

That melted as Skyline committed three errors in the bottom of the inning, combined with five Mesquite hits. Five of the six runs were unearned. By the time five innings were in the books, Mesquite's lead was 7-4. Skyline took advantage in the top of the sixth of one of Mesquite's two errors, this one a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt that scored two runs. Skyline added two more runs to take an 8-7 lead -- an RBI double by Jaycee Lindley and RBI single from Ari Santos. Lindlley collected three hits as did teammate  Priscilla Figueroa. Couch finished with three RBI.

Mesquite's win gives them a shot at the Section 3 title, which will be decided in all likelihood by the winner of this Tuesday's matchup at Arcadia. Mesquite is 14-8-1 overall, and 9-5 in power-ranking games. The Wildcats were No. 25 in the power-rankings at the start of Friday and Skyline was No. 23. Section champions, regardless of power-ranking, earn automatic berths to the state tournament. Two other teams in Section 3 -- Marcos de Niza and Westwood -- are tightly bunched with Skyline and Mesqjuite. Marcos de Niza was No.24 and Westwood No. 26 as of Friday morning.

"This was a characted win," Hernandez said. "But we have to clean up some things in the field. Arcadia has an outstanding pitcher, and we'll have to play tight defense to have a chance. Our best chance would be to win a low-scoring game, 2-1, 3-2. This game gives us a shot."