ROCHELLE — Sophomore Emma Heller was stellar in the pitcher’s circle after taking over in relief during the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball matchup against Boylan on Saturday.

With her team facing a seven-run deficit, Heller took the ball midway through the fourth inning and slammed the door on the Titans. The sophomore right-hander fired nearly four perfect frames of relief, striking out seven batters without allowing a walk or a base hit. Despite an illness sidelining her for Rochelle’s game against Rockford Auburn on Thursday, Heller stepped up on Saturday and helped the Lady Hubs stay competitive in their 8-1 loss to the Titans.

“She looked great out there,” head coach Deanna Jacobs said. “The plan in the beginning of the week was to have her take the start for this game, but she wasn’t feeling the best towards the end of the week and missed the Auburn game due to it, so we thought we’d give her a little bit of rest in the circle. She stepped into the circle and did her job. Her speed and spots were spot on today. Overall, we know the girls can hit, and defensively we have been pretty solid, now we just need to work on the last component of the game which is the mental game and grit.”

Freshman Mya Martinez took the ball to start the game for the Lady Hubs (3-8, 0-1 Interstate 8), holding the Titans to one run over the first three frames. Boylan tallied one run in the top of the first inning, scoring after Maddy Kiley smacked a one-out double to left field before touching home plate on a passed ball three batters later. Rochelle evened the score in the bottom half, where freshman Audrina Rodriguez belted an RBI double to center to plate senior Lauren Dyer.

The Lady Hubs scattered singles over the second and third innings and posted four hits over the first three frames, but Rochelle was unable to break the 1-1 tie. Boylan (5-2, 0-0 NIC-10) took control of the game in the top of the fourth inning, scoring the first of its seven runs on a base hit from Gabby Acuna, who capped off a string of three consecutive singles to open the frame.

Martinez struck out Boylan’s Abby Dunn for the first out of the frame for the Lady Hubs, but a fielding error at short allowed the Titans to load the bases for Dez Moore, who pounded a grounder through the left side for a two-run single that gave Boylan a 4-1 lead. Ari Ousley followed with a run-scoring single to center and after a walk loaded the bases again, Lily Burke blasted a triple into deep center that cleared the bases and put the Titans ahead 8-1.

Faced with a seven-run deficit, Rochelle turned to Heller, who retired Janae Burke and Sophia Faught on a flyout and a strikeout to end Boylan’s seven-run frame. Heller proceeded to retire the Titans in order over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to keep the Lady Hubs in the mix. Rochelle put three runners on base in the bottom of the sixth inning, where the Lady Hubs singled twice and Rodriguez drew a walk, but a groundout to the pitcher ended the threat.

Dyer went 2 for 3 and scored one run for the Lady Hubs, who finished with seven hits and one walk drawn. Rochelle will host Sycamore in Interstate 8 action on Monday at 4:30 p.m.