Top-seed Mesquite is not too concerned right now with the way it wins, just as long the Wildcats continue to do so.

With a second matchup with No. 16 seed North Canyon in a week, Mesquite lived to play another day Saturday night with an 8-3 triumph over the Rattlers in a 5A-I state baseball tournament elimination contest at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

"We've been struggling to score runs, leaving guys on base all over the place," Mesquite coach Jeff Holland said. "It was nice to get some runs early, not matter how we got them. I'll take a win any way I can get it right now. This isn't the road we wanted to take, but it's the one we have to go down."

Mesquite (28-4) collected seven hits -- not an astounding total for the Wildcats - who can score with the best of teams. North Canyon (15-16) pitching added six walks to the seven hits and the Rattlers committed five errors making the evening fairly comfortable for the No. 1 seed. Mesquite faces its next elimination game on Tuesday at 7 pm. at Camelback Ranch Glendale Stadium against Brophy. Brophy lost its first game of the tournament in the winner's bracket, falling to Hamilton, 14-4.

Mesquite and North Canyon set the tone for the contest in the first inning. The Wildcats built a 3-0 lead getting back-to-back walks from North Canyon starter Coley Bruns. Seth Fretheim followed with a sharp ground ball to second that looked to be double-play material. The ball was booted and Davies scored from second. Clean-up hitter Garrett Jeffries singled in a second run (he later added a two-run homer) and Nick Rosales plated the third run with a sacrifice fly.

Two more infield errors led to Mesquite's fourth run in the third. Jeffries two-run homer in the fourth answered North Canyon's first run and improved the lead to 6-1. The Rattlers sliced that to 6-3 in the top of the fifth on Dominic Portocarrero's two-run double. Davies got those runs back and sent Bruns packing with a two-run double of his own.

Mesquite's defense and pitching was solid to go along with North Canyon's defensive woes and timely Wildcats' hits. Holland  got quality pitching from seniors Evvan Williams and Riley Smith, who combined to allow just four hits. Williams worked the first five innings, allowing all three runs (two earned), the four hits, three walks and striking out six.

Holland praised the efforts of both his pitchers, who jhave formed a solid duo back of ace Zach Davies.

"Evvan threw on Tuesday against Brophy, so he didn't have the rest he normally would," Holland said. "I asked him about it yesterday and he said, Coach, I can do it."

Smith relieved Williams in the sixth and walked two of the first three hitters he faced. Smith more than atoned, striking out the side in the sixth and two of three hitters in the seventh to nail it down.

"It's been a tough week for the Smith family," Holland said. "Riley lost his grandfather earlier in the week and an aunt today. He was outstanding finishing it up."