WYLIE – Mesquite Poteet coach Joseph Huber has plenty of faith in the bottom part of his lineup. It showed why Saturday, contributing heavily in Poteet's 9-2 victory against Rockwall in the third game of a best-of-3 Class 4A Region II semifinal.

Poteet (33-8-1) advances to face Forney (35-6), the state's fifth-ranked 4A team and owner of a 30-game winning streak, in the regional final.

Poteet's 7-8-9 hitters – Jordan Wright, Mackenzie Middlebrook and Jessi Black – went 4-for-6, scored three runs and had three RBIs, two sacrifices and one stolen base.

The trio did most of its damage in a five-run third inning in which Poteet took a 6-2 lead. All three scored in the third. Middlebrook drove in a run, and Black brought home Wright and Middlebrook on a single to left field.

"We were seeing the ball well and doing our job by getting everyone in front of us to keep going," said Middlebrook, who was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice and a walk. "That was definitely Poteet softball today."

The big third inning was plenty for Poteet starter Bradie Baker, who earned the win, allowing six hits and striking out four. She retired 10 of the final 11.