Highland followed a script set earlier in the 6A state softball tournament by a double-digit seed to remain in the championship chase.

The 11th-seeded Hawks scored three runs in the sixth inning Thursday night to pull off a 3-2 triumph over 2nd-seeded Red Mountain at Red Mountain High.

Highland freshman Easton Joslin lined a two-run single to right field with two outs, capping what proved to be the game-winning rally off Red Mountain ace and stalwart Kendall Cochran. That brought the Hawks back from a 2-0 deficit applied by Red Mountain in the fourth inning. Red Mountain's first season under coach and former prep and collegiate standout Bre-Macha Peterson concluded with a 19-6-1 record.

"We have several freshmen in our lineup," Highland coach Marty Stricklett said. "Easton is one. She had a good at-bat and got a pitch to hit (on a 3-2 count)."

Highland (22-10) continues in the losers' bracket, playing Saturday against No. 3 seed Hamilton. Game time is 9:30 a.m. at Mesa High School.

Highland junior and staff ace Kennedie Nelson (13-5) picked up for starter Cambria Chacon with two outs in the fourth inning after Chacon gave up two runs in the inning. Nelson picked up the win and finished up. She threw 3 1/3 innings of one-hit, no-run relief.

Red Mountain threatened in its final at bat. Stricklett, who'd seen Pinnacle's top power hitter hurt the Hawks with a late home run earlier in the tournament, vowed to make sure Red Mountain's ultra power-hitter -- Payton Westra -- wouldn't be a factor. Highland intentionally walked Westra in all four of her plate appearances. 

"We had too much respect for her," Stricklett said. We weren't going to let her beat us." Westra entered the game batting .755 with 11 homers and 41 RBI.

10th-seed Sandra Day O'Connor is in the winners' bracket and set to play No. 6 Pinnacle on Friday at 7 p.m.at Mesa High. 12th seed Mesa Mountain View won an elimination game Thursday besting #9 Desert Vista, 5-1. No. 3 Hamilton remained in contention Thursday with an 11-5 victory over Tucson Sunnyside.