ROCHELLE — The Lady Hub softball team continued to roll on the offensive end Saturday morning, when Rochelle hosted Ashton-Franklin Center for nonconference action.

One day after run-ruling the Plano Reapers in Interstate 8 competition, Rochelle started strong against the Raiders, defeating Ashton-Franklin Center 10-0 and going above the .500 mark for the first time this season. The Lady Hubs (5-4) will host Morris on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

Sophomore Morgan Smardo earned the win on the pitcher’s mound, striking out nine Raiders and allowing only one hit. Freshman Ella Alfano ignited the Lady Hub offense in the first inning, plating Smardo on an RBI single before junior MeLisa Young put Rochelle ahead 3-0 with an RBI triple three at-bats later. Sophomore Addie Friestad’s RBI groundout made it 4-0 Rochelle.

“We’ve started off the season really well,” Young said. “We’re hitting the ball and we’re playing great defense. We’re waiting on the ball and we’ve really driving the ball and finding the open spots in the field. We need to keep playing great defense and I think we have a chance to go really far in the regionals if we play defense and continue hitting the ball.”

The Lady Hubs rallied for five runs in the third inning to surge ahead 9-0. Junior Ashley Knight delivered a two-run single before eventually scoring on a wild pitch. Senior Kendal Ansteth singled and scored on a wild pitch to keep the Rochelle offense moving, while Smardo helped herself with a triple and a run scored on another wild pitch. Alfano reached on an error with one out in the fifth inning, scoring three at-bats later courtesy of an RBI putout from Young.

Ottawa

The Lady Hubs faced Ottawa on the road Monday, falling 4-0 to move to 5-5 on the season. The Pirates successfully no-hit Rochelle in the Interstate 8 Conference matchup. The Lady Hubs dropped to 2-5 in the conference.