ROCHELLE — The Rochelle varsity softball team recognized five seniors for their contributions to the program before the Lady Hubs took the field against the Morris Redskins for their annual Senior Day game. Becca Bunger, Emilee Dueringer, Macy Luxton, Mandi Lamb and Maddi O’Rorke all received special gifts and T-shirts as members of this year’s senior class.

“All five seniors have really played intricate roles on our team this season,” head coach Lindsay Suess said. “All five of them are starters and they all hit in the lineup. They’ve showed great leadership for our younger kids and it’ll be sad to see them go.”

After hanging tough during their doubleheader against Ottawa and Kentucky softball commit Sloan Gayan on Saturday, the Lady Hubs stayed close with Morris over the first three innings on Tuesday. The Redskins rallied behind their six-run fourth inning, however, topping the Lady Hubs by a final score of 11-4 to drop Rochelle to 3-20 overall.

Morris led 3-0 entering the bottom of the third inning. Junior Hannah Luxton doubled to start Rochelle in the bottom half, and Dueringer singled to load the bases after O’Rorke reached on a hit-by-pitch. Lamb’s bases-loaded walk plated one run, and freshman Hayleigh Jones delivered a two-out RBI single to left that made it a 3-2 game.

“We needed another role player and we felt like Hayleigh could make plays for us,” Suess said. “She’s been hitting the ball well and she’s been making some plays for us in the field. She was excellent against Ottawa on Saturday.”

The Redskins went ahead 9-2 after two singles, two Rochelle errors and a fielder’s choice sparked the six-run Morris rally in the fourth inning. The Redskins added two more runs on an error in the fifth inning and led 11-2 before Bunger slapped an RBI single through the infield in the sixth inning. Junior Abby Reish sent an RBI single into center during the seventh inning for Rochelle’s final run.