ROCHESTER – Not a bad time to pull off an upset a week before the state tournament begins.

Rochester, ranked No. 3 in the final regular season Class 3A softball poll, found itself in a shootout with a Whitko team that has been up and down this season.

When the dust settled, Whitko drove home with a 9-8 win at Rochester.

The game featured 11 lead changes and came to a head when Maddie Gawthrop doubled in Haley Yohe for the eventual winning run in the top of the seventh. Gawthrop and Yohe both had two hits in the contest, Gawthrop’s both were two-baggers.

Aly Nicodemus racked up two RBIs on three hits for Whitko. Nicodemus had a double and two singles to pace the Lady Wildcats.

Hanna Yohe earned the win for Whitko, holding Rochester to just one run in the final two innings. Rochester knocked around Nicodemus, the starter, for nine hits and seven runs in five innings.

Whitko (8-13) tagged Rochester ace Lexy Holland for 11 hits and the nine runs, roughing up one of the top pitchers in the area.

Rochester (20-2) were led by the three hits and two runs scored by Becky Malchow and the two hits and three runs scored by Kaelee Smith.