Mendota staged a stunning comeback and topped North Boone, 9-8, in a Big Northern Conference varsity softball thriller on April 9 at the MHS field.

North Boone jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings before Mendota got on the board with three runs in the third. Anna Bokus walked and scored, while Larkin O’Donnell and Alex Barrera both singled and touched home plate.

North Boone and Mendota exchanged single tallies in the fifth and sixth innings, with Mendota’s coming in on an RBI double by Emma Boatman.

Trailing 8-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Trojans sent eight batters to the plate and five of them scored to pull out the victory.

Bokus led off with a walk. One out later, Barrera singled and pinch hitter Lauren Martin followed with a single to drive in a run. Jenna O’Donnell’s fielder’s choice grounder plated another run, but Mendota had two outs and was still down 8-6. But Boatman kept the inning alive with a single, Reiss Buettner doubled in a run and Kassidy Barkman doubled in two runs to give Mendota the win.

Mary DeFore went the distance in the circle to get the win.

Mendota totaled nine hits, with Barrera delivering three singles.

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Mendota posted another come-from-behind win, this time over Rockford Lutheran, 5-4, in conference action on April 12 at the MHS field. The girls are 4-5 in the BNC.

Mendota scored single tallies in the first and second innings before Lutheran put three runs on the board in the third to take the lead. The Lady Trojans tied the count in the fifth on a two-out RBI single by Jenna O’Donnell.

Lutheran regained the advantage with a run in the top of the seventh, but Mendota benefited from some shoddy Lutheran defense in the bottom of the seventh to pull out the win. DeFore drilled a one-out triple and scored the tying run on a dropped pop fly to right field off the bat of Jenna O’Donnell. Boatman was safe on a misplayed fly ball by the center fielder, and then an error on the Lutheran shortstop allowed O’Donnell to race home with the winning run.

DeFore (single, triple) and Buettner (two singles) led Mendota’s eight-hit attack.

DeFore pitched a complete-game four-hitter to earn the victory. She fanned seven and did not issue a walk.

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The Lady Trojans rallied for an 8-3 nonconference triumph over Hall on April 13 at Spring Valley.

Hall held a 3-0 lead through two innings before Mendota got its offense going. Mendota scored twice in the third with Buettner picking up an RBI single and then took the lead with two more runs in the fourth on a two-run homer off the bat of Larkin O’Donnell.

The Lady Trojans padded their lead with three runs in the fifth on three singles and three walks. Buettner singled in a run, while Larkin O’Donnell and Barrera both walked with the bases loaded.

Mendota completed its scoring in the seventh on a solo home run from Barrera.

MHS (6-11) pounded out 13 hits with Barrera, Jenna O’Donnell, Boatman and Buettner picking up two hits apiece.

After a rocky first, Paige Manning settled down in the circle and blanked Hall the rest of the way. She allowed six hits, walked three and struck out five.