STREATOR — The Rochelle Hub baseball team split its nonconference varsity doubleheader against Streator on Saturday. Senior Brandyn Metzger went 7 for 7 with five RBIs across both games for the Hubs, who conceded the opener to the Bulldogs 8-4 before rallying to take the finale 11-1. Rochelle (4-2, 0-0 Interstate 8) will open conference play at Sycamore on Monday.

Game 1

Streator took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning during Saturday’s opener, scoring on an RBI single from Colin Byers. Rochelle answered in the top of the second inning, tying the game after sophomore Johnny Andrist’s RBI single to center plated Metzger, who reached on a single to lead off the frame. The Bulldogs retook the lead in the bottom half, with Jake Hagie reaching on a fielder’s choice grounder to drive home Blaize Bressner and put Streator ahead 2-1.

Metzger’s strong day at the plate continued in the top of the third inning, where the senior delivered an RBI single up the middle to score senior Carson Lewis, who sent a single into left center earlier in the frame. Streator managed to answer once again, though, tallying one run in the bottom of the third inning, where Cole Winterrowd singled and scored on a wild pitch.

Back-to-back RBI singles from Hagie and Keegan Angelico sparked a three-run frame for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Trailing 6-2, Rochelle earned one run back in the top of the fifth inning, scoring after sophomore Brody Bruns belted a one-out double and Metzger drove him home on an RBI single up the middle. Streator responded with two runs in the bottom half, taking an 8-3 lead after consecutive run-scoring hits from Angelico and Winterrowd.

Rochelle put three runners on base in the top of the seventh inning, where Andrist capped off a 2-for-4 performance with a two-out RBI double to center for the final Hub run of the game. Metzger went 4 for 4 and totaled two RBIs, while senior Ethan Goodwin went 2 for 4 to aid the Rochelle offense, which recorded 10 hits. Bruns pitched four innings and struck out five batters before handing the ball to sophomore Andrew Huerta, who fanned four over two relief innings.

Game 2

The first two frames went scoreless, but the Hubs broke through in the top of the third inning, where an RBI single from Metzger sparked a two-run frame that gave Rochelle a 2-0 lead. Streator’s lone run of the finale came in the bottom of the third inning, with Cole Winterrowd smacking a two-out single up the middle before scoring on a passed ball three batters later. 

Junior Brode Metzger came through with a two-out RBI double in the top of the fourth inning, lining the ball into left field to give the Hubs a 3-1 advantage. Rochelle broke the game wide open with an explosive fifth frame, where the Hubs tacked on eight runs behind five walks and multiple errors from the Bulldogs. Brandyn Metzger capped off the frame, sending a two-run single up the middle. Metzger went 3 for 3 and reached base four times in the victory.

Andrew Huerta earned the win on the pitcher’s mound, throwing three innings while striking out seven batters and holding the Bulldogs to one run on three hits. Johnny Andrist entered in relief, firing the final two frames while striking out three batters and limiting Streator to one hit. Carson Lewis went 2 for 4 and scored two runs, while Ethan Goodwin totaled two runs and two RBIs.