ROCKFORD — Senior Ella Alfano went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double to fuel the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team during Thursday’s season-opener against Rockford Guilford. Alfano scored two runs and recorded two RBIs as the Lady Hubs took down the Vikings 9-4 behind a seven-run offensive explosion in the top of the fourth inning.

Guilford’s Leah Hunter delivered a two-run single to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Guilford tallied another run in the bottom of the second inning, where Olivia Dawson singled and scored on an RBI groundout from lead-off batter Calie Sadewater.

The Lady Hubs (1-0, 0-0 Interstate 8) took the game over with seven runs in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Phelisity Lopez slapped an RBI single with one out, making the score 2-1 before Alfano tied the game with an RBI single in the next at-bat. Freshman Briel Metzger sent a two-out RBI single to the right side that gave the Lady Hubs their first lead of the game.

Sophomore Madigan Williams kept the offense rolling for the Rochelle side, shooting an RBI single up the middle to make the score 4-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Jaclynn Lira then drew a bases-loaded walk before junior Lauren Dyer smashed a two-run single into center field that brought Williams and freshman lead-off batter Dylan Etes across home plate.

Alfano singled and scored on a wild pitch to give the Lady Hubs an 8-3 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Alfano’s RBI double in the top of the sixth inning allowed Lira to score and add another run for the Lady Hubs, who conceded one run on an error and a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning. Freshman Emma Heller threw the first three innings before Dyer closed out the win, throwing four innings and striking out five without allowing a hit or an earned run.