Softball: Sage Mardjetko 16-strikeout no-hitter sends Lemont back to state for third straight year

Lemont 6, Metamora 0

Sage Mardjetko threw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts and went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and three RBIs as Lemont won the Class 3A East Peoria Supersectional to return to state for the third straight year.

Raegan Duncan also homered in the first inning Monday to put Lemont ahead 3-0.

The lead grew to 4-0 after two innings and 6-0 through three innings.

Mardjetko worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the top of the sixth on the way to the shutout.

Frankie Rita went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Lemont will play Benet in a Class 3A state semifinal at 10 a.m. Friday at Peoria’s Louisville Slugger complex. Charleston and Antioch are the other half of the final four and will play at 12:30 p.m. Friday.