ROCHELLE — Runs have been tough to obtain for the Rochelle Hub varsity baseball team, which saw its losing streak reach four games after falling 5-0 in its two-game Interstate 8 series opener against LaSalle-Peru on Wednesday. The Hubs (6-8) face the Cavs on the road Friday.

LaSalle-Peru starter Julius Sanchez dominated the Rochelle offense Wednesday, striking out 17 batters and allowing only one hit to Hub junior Andy Buskohl in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Cavaliers scored two runs on a double, a single and an error in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. An RBI single put LaSalle-Peru up 3-0 in the top of the third inning before a two-run homer over the left-field fence gave the Cavaliers a five-run advantage.

Three Rochelle players reached base in the loss. Senior Sam Hacaga drew a walk in the bottom of the third and junior Eric Briseno reached on a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the seventh. Senior Oscar Linares started for the Hubs, striking out eight batters in five innings pitched.

Fresh/Soph

The Rochelle Hub fresh-soph baseball team shut out LaSalle-Peru on Wednesday, winning 9-0 and improving to 6-3 overall. Colton O’Rorke allowed only three hits in six innings pitched, striking out eight batters. Christian Burnette homered and recorded three RBIs, while Aidan Rodriguez singled twice and added three RBIs. O’Rorke and Bradley Cooney each had one RBI.