Winnebago’s Peyton McCray slides into second with a stolen base while Mendota shortstop Bryson Prusator awaits the ball on May 5 at the MHS field. (Reporter photo)

Genoa-Kingston broke a tie in the late innings and went on to post a 9-7 win over Mendota in a Big Northern Conference varsity baseball contest on May 1 at Genoa.

Mendota’s defense let down starter Sam Becker in the first inning as the Cogs scored three unearned runs.

The Trojans bounced back in the top of the third when with two outs, they put three runs on the board to tie the game.

The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth when G-K’s offense erupted for six runs as it hit for the cycle in the frame.

Mendota staged a rally in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs on three hits, a walk and three G-K errors, but it was not enough.

Becker took the pitching loss, going six batters into the bottom of the sixth, ultimately yielding eight runs (five earned) on nine hits, walking two and striking out nine. Mason DeFore finished up on the hill.

Mendota had seven hits off of two Cog pitchers. Bryson Prusator doubled in a pair of runs, while Joel Escatel collected two singles and an RBI.

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Mendota got back on the winning track with a double-header sweep of Winnebago on May 5 at the MHS diamond. The Trojans took the opener, 5-4, and claimed the nightcap, 7-5.

The first game was a continuation and conclusion of a game that started two weeks prior at Winnebago. At the time of the suspension because of rain, the game was knotted at 1-1.

Winnebago, which was the home team, broke the tie with a run in the third before Mendota struck for a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead. The Trojans scored on an errant throw and an Austin Robinson ground out.

The Indians got a solo home run to dead center off the bat of Peyton McCray to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth, and after a scoreless sixth, Mendota tallied twice in the top of the seventh to go up 5-3. Ben Bokus plated Becker with an infield fielder’s choice and John Buchanan grounded out to drive in Bokus.

Winnebago loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh off of Bokus, who had to leave because of the pitch count. Prusator relieved, and after uncorking a wild pitch to score one run, he got a called third strike to preserve the win.

Bokus got the win, allowing nine hits and three earned runs. He walked four and fanned nine.

Bokus also provided two singles and two RBI at the dish, while Becker singled twice and Prusator doubled.

In the day’s second contest, each team scored a run in the first, and then Winnebago got one run in the third and three more in the fourth to grab a 5-1 advantage.

Mendota rallied with two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a lead-off homer by Prusator and an infield single by Jake Stohr, then the Trojans staged a four-run fifth inning to go on top for good.

Owen Wixom reached on an error and ultimately scored on a passed ball to make it 5-4. Then Bokus clobbered a two-run homer to right to give Mendota the lead. Prusator followed with a double and he eventually came home on an error to complete the scoring.

Buchanan pitched the first six innings to garner the victory. He permitted seven hits, three earned runs, walked one and struck out seven. Escatel pitched a perfect seventh to lock down the win for the Trojans (11-11, 9-9).