Lady Hubs concede one-run lead in 5-2 loss Saturday

GENOA — The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team held a 2-1 lead over Genoa-Kingston during Saturday afternoon’s nonconference matchup against the Cogs. But a three-run frame allowed Genoa-Kingston to stage a late-inning comeback and hand the Lady Hubs a 5-2 loss. Rochelle (5-15, 2-8 Interstate 8) will host the Ottawa Pirates on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Christine Venditti gave the Cogs a 1-0 lead over Rochelle in the bottom of the first inning, sending an RBI single to right field that scored Violet Northrup. Sophomore Lauren Dyer and senior Morgan Smardo slapped back-to-back singles to open the top of the fourth inning, where freshman Madigan Williams delivered a two-run double to put the Lady Hubs ahead 2-1. 

Genoa-Kingston rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking advantage of two fielder’s choice grounders and a series of defensive errors from the Lady Hubs. Emily Trzynka singled and scored on another Rochelle error in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Cogs a 5-2 advantage. Dyer threw all six innings for the Lady Hubs, striking out six batters and holding Genoa-Kingston to five hits. All five runs were unearned due to nine defensive errors in the loss.