MENDOTA – Rockford Lutheran strung together a trio of three-run innings and that was enough to post an 11-5 triumph over Mendota in a Big Northern Conference varsity baseball game on April 26 at the MHS diamond.

The Crusaders jumped out in front 3-0 in the top of the first before the Trojans crept closer with single tallies in the first and second frames. Lutheran led 5-3 after four innings and then had three-run outbursts in the sixth and seventh innings to put the game away. Mendota scored three times in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Lutheran banged out five doubles and outhit the Trojans, 15-5. Sam Becker had the only multi-hit game for Mendota, picking up a single and a triple.

Ben Bokus got the start on the hill for the Trojans and allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out 10. Paxton Kennedy gave up eight hits and six runs in an inning and two-thirds, while John Buchanan had a short stint on the mound.

* * *

Mendota and Winnebago finished off a game on April 29 that was suspended from April 14, and the Trojans prevailed, 3-1, in BNC play.

The Trojans were leading by a 2-1 count in the bottom of the fourth on April 14 when heavy rains halted the contest. When the game resumed two weeks later, Mendota added a run in the sixth to provide the final margin.

Two Trojan pitchers tossed a combined no-hitter against the Indians. Bokus pitched four innings the first time around and was credited with the win. Cruz Figueroa finished off on the hill.

Becker and Joe LaShonse each provided a pair of singles for Mendota. Bokus, Kennedy and Joel Escatel each drove in one run for the Trojans, who improved to 12-7 overall and 9-4 in the league.