Trojans end league slate at 10-10

staff
Posted 5/17/18

Mendota and North Boone hooked up on back-to-back days and each squad won on the home team’s field in Big Northern Conference varsity baseball action.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Trojans end league slate at 10-10

Posted

Mendota and North Boone hooked up on back-to-back days and each squad won on the home team’s field in Big Northern Conference varsity baseball action.

The Trojans hosted North Boone on May 8 and the Vikings came away with a 9-6 win.

North Boone grabbed a 4-0 lead in the top of the third. Mendota answered with one run in the bottom of the frame when Sam Becker’s lead-off walk eventually led to a run on a passed ball.

The Vikings went up 8-1 in the fifth and 9-1 in the sixth before the Trojans tried to make a comeback. Mendota plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly by Adrian Espinoza.

Then in the seventh, the Trojans put together four hits and scored three runs, but came up short. Ben Bokus doubled and Bryson Prusator drove him home with a single up the middle. Austin Robinson followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Both came home on ground outs to make it 9-6. Joel Escatel kept the inning alive with a single and Mason DeFore walked, but North Boone recorded the final out on a strikeout to secure the victory.

Becker took the loss on the hill, allowing eight runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Becker led Mendota’s seven-hit attack with a pair of singles.

***

The two teams met again on May 9 at Poplar Grove and this time the Trojans prevailed, 8-6.

Mendota jumped out to a 3-0 lead, scoring twice in the opening inning and once in the second.

North Boone responded with one in the second and four in third to seize a 5-3 lead, but the Trojans tallied four times in the top of the fourth without the benefit of a hit. North Boone pitching issued four walks and a hit batsman, and Mendota got sacrifice flies from Robinson and John Buchanan to drive in runs.

The Vikings got to within 7-6 with a run in the bottom of the fourth, and then Mendota added an insurance tally in the sixth on a solo home run by Prusator.

Prusator, Mendota’s starting pitcher, retired North Boone in order in the bottom of the sixth and then the rains came. The Trojans were able to bat in the top of the seventh and scored five runs. The increasing rainfall made it necessary to stop the contest in the bottom of the seventh with one out, so the final winning tally was 8-6 instead of 13-6.

Prusator went the distance on the hill, giving up six runs (four earned) on seven hits. He issued two free passes and fanned four.

Mendota scored its eight runs on only four base hits, getting the added benefit of eight walks and three hit batsmen. Robinson (two singles) had two of Mendota’s four safeties.

The Trojans wrapped up the conference season with a 10-10 record.

***

Mendota concluded the regular season with an unbelievable 11-10 loss at Seneca on May 10.

The Trojans entered the bottom of the seventh with a seemingly comfortable 10-4 lead. The first hitter of the inning was retired, but then the unexpected happened. Seven straight Seneca batters reached base and five of them scored to make it 10-9. After a fielder’s choice grounder got the second out for Mendota, Seneca’s Uriah Tobolsky drove a double into the left-center field gap that scored two runs and gave Seneca the victory.

The Irish led 4-1 after three innings, but the Trojans scored in every inning after that to build their 10-4 cushion. DeFore delivered a two-out, bases-loaded single to break a 4-4 tie in the top of the fifth to give Mendota a 6-4 lead that eventually grew to 10-4 before the bottom of the seventh debacle.

Bokus started on the mound for the Trojans, working into the sixth inning and seemingly in line for the win. He allowed seven hits, four runs (two earned), struck out 10 and did not issue a walk. Escatel took the loss, working between two stints on the hill by Buchanan, who surrendered the game-winning hit.

Mendota (12-13) finished with eight hits, including two each by Becker (two singles), Bokus (single, double, three RBI) and Escatel (two singles).