Mendota’s Alex Barrera slides into third base ahead of the throw with a bases-loaded triple against Kewanee on April 21 at the MHS field. (Reporter photo)

Mendota had everything working as it swept a double-header from Byron in Big Northern Conference varsity softball action on April 19 at Byron.

The Lady Trojans claimed an 8-3 victory in the opener. Mendota scored three runs in the first and four more in the third to take control.

Rylee Klema stroked a two-run single and Jenna O’Donnell drove in another run with a single in the first.

In the third, Jenna O’Donnell delivered another run-scoring single, while Reiss Buettner and Paityn Barkman also plated runs with singles.

Mendota ended with nine hits, including two singles each from Klema, Jenna O’Donnell and Buettner.

Klema went the distance in the circle to pick up the win. She gave up six hits, walked two and struck out 12.

In the nightcap, Mendota scored in every inning for a 12-2 win halted after five because of the 10-run rule.

Klema picked up a two-run single in the second to give Mendota a 3-0 lead, then the Lady Trojans struck for four runs in the third and four more in the fourth.

Larkin O’Donnell punched a two-run single in the third. Then in the fourth, Buettner and Brandy Delao had RBI singles, Morgan Marquis laced a run-scoring double and Alex Barrera drove in a run with a ground out.

Mendota’s 15-hit outburst was led by Buettner with four singles. Collecting two hits apiece were Larkin O’Donnell (two singles), Klema (two singles), Emma Boatman (single, double) and Delao (two singles).

Boatman was the winning pitcher, allowing just three hits, walking two and fanning two.

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Like many other teams, Mendota couldn’t solve Rock Falls standout hurler Payton Yanes and the Lady Trojans fell by a 4-0 count in BNC action on April 20 at the MHS field.

Prior to going up against the Lady Trojans, Yanes had thrown a no-hitter and a perfect game in her last two outings. Mendota got two singles off of Yanes – by Klema and Brittany Menzel – and struck out 14 times.

After Rock Falls tallied a run in the top of the first, Yanes and Klema locked up in a pitcher’s duel and the game remained that way until the sixth when the Lady Rockets broke loose for three runs on four hits to put the game away.

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Mendota outlasted Kewanee, 11-6, in a nonconference contest on April 21 at the MHS field.

After Kewanee took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, Mendota responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-run double by Klema and an RBI single by Eve Herbert.

The Lady Boilers got a three-run homer from Dani Nevleb to regain the lead in the third, but the Lady Trojans answered again with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good. Barrera lofted a two-run triple and then scored on a wild pitch.

Brittany Menzel supplied an RBI single in a two-run fourth for Mendota, then Barrera put the game away with a bases-loaded triple in the sixth.

Barrera ended with two triples and five RBI to pace the victory. Others with multiple hits were Barkman (two singles) and Menzel (two singles). Buettner and Jenna O’Donnell each had a double in Mendota’s 11-hit attack.

Boatman pitched a complete game for the Lady Trojans, giving up eight hits, two earned runs, walking two and striking out three.

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Rock Falls defeated the Lady Trojans, 1-0, on April 23 at Rock Falls.

Yanes worked her magic in the circle for the Lady Rockets as she fired a no-hitter. Mendota had just three baserunners – two walks and an error.

The Lady Trojans’ best chance to score came in the third when Menzel led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Barkman. But Yanes retired the next two Mendota batters to get out of the inning.

The only run of the game came in the fourth when Rock Falls had a double and a triple.

Klema suffered the tough-luck defeat for Mendota (13-5, 7-3). She gave up six hits, struck out eight and did not issue a walk.