Mendota catcher Morgan Marquis swipes a tag at Taryn Munroe of Dixon on April 25 at the MHS field. Munroe was out on a fielder’s choice grounder. (Reporter photo)

The Mendota Lady Trojans pulled out a dramatic 8-6 victory over Dixon in a Big Northern Conference varsity softball game on April 25 at the MHS diamond.

Each team scored a first-inning run, with Mendota’s coming on a sacrifice fly by Rylee Klema to drive in Morgan Marquis, who doubled to open the inning.

The Lady Trojans took the lead with a three-run third. Larkin O’Donnell drew a leadoff walk and then Marquis crushed a two-run homer over the left field fence. Later in the inning, Klema added a double and raced home on a single by Reiss Buettner.

Dixon was able to tie the game at 4-4 with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth before Mendota retook the lead with a tally in the bottom of the fifth. Marquis singled and then scampered home on a double to center by Klema.

The Duchesses forged back on top when they put together two singles and a double to plate a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.

But the Lady Trojans responded in the bottom of the sixth with three runs to take the lead for good. After one was out, Kathryn McNally and Ryann Avery laced consecutive singles. With two outs, Marquis completed a perfect day at the dish when she doubled to drive in two runs. She later scored on a passed ball.

Klema, who went the distance in the circle, retired Dixon in order in the top of the seventh to earn the win. She allowed nine hits and struck out eight.

Mendota totaled 12 hits, led by Marquis with a single, two doubles and a home run. Klema added two doubles, Alexis Diaz singled and tripled, and McNally singled twice.

* * *

Mendota spotted Rockford Lutheran a 2-0 lead, but roared back to post an 11-3 win in a conference matchup on April 28 at the MHS diamond. Lutheran was the home team because its field was too wet to play on.

Trailing 2-0 heading to the bottom of the second, the Lady Trojans batted around and plated five runs to take the lead for good. Avery got things started when she doubled to lead off the frame. A Lutheran error and singles by Hope McDowell and O’Donnell kept the inning going. Marquis drew a walk and then Klema drove in two runs with a double.

Mendota’s bats continued to be loud in the next inning when it scored two runs after the first two batters were retired. Brittany Menzel kept the inning alive with a single, then McDowell delivered a run-scoring double and O’Donnell followed with an RBI triple.

Mendota tacked on two more runs in the fourth when Klema (double), Buettner (single) and Avery (single) reached base ahead of a two-run single by McNally.

In the fifth, Marquis doubled to open the inning and later scored on an error, while O’Donnell singled and scored in the seventh.

The Lady Trojans pounded out 15 hits, with Klema and O’Donnell getting three apiece. Avery, McNally and McDowell each had two-hit games.

Klema started in the circle and pitched four innings to get the win. Avery finished off the game.

* * *

Rochelle came back in the late innings to down Mendota, 4-2, on April 29 at Rochelle.

Mendota held a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning when Rochelle pushed across three unearned runs to pull out the win. MHS committed two errors in the inning.

Each team scored a run in the first inning, Mendota’s coming on an RBI single by Klema. McDowell singled and scored in the second to put the Lady Trojans up, 2-1, where the score remained until the bottom of the sixth.

Mendota (12-9, 9-3) collected nine hits, led by Klema with three singles and McDowell with two singles.

Klema pitched all six innings, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out nine.