ROCHELLE — Needing five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally back from an early deficit against the Sandwich Indians on Thursday, Rochelle’s Lady Hub varsity softball team came within inches of potentially sending its four seniors off with a victory on their home field.

After scoring four runs and putting the tying runner on second base, Rochelle had sophomore Addie Friestad at the plate with a chance to even the score. With an even count, Friestad smacked the ball down the right-field line for what could’ve been extra bases and the game-tying hit. But the ball fell in foul territory by only a few inches, resulting in a second strike that ultimately preceded a game-ending strikeout for the Indians, who held on for a 7-6 win.

“I thought we started hitting the ball a lot better over the last few innings,” head coach Lindsay Suess said. “We just need to make more contact earlier in the game. I thought our defense made some plays toward the end of the game as well. We just have to play all seven innings.”

Seniors Bella Lodico, Zoe Hardcastle, Sawyer McGee and Kendal Ansteth were all recognized before the game Thursday evening. Both teams went scoreless over the first two innings before Sandwich rallied for four runs on three singles, one triple and a Rochelle error in the top of the third inning. A two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning put the Indians ahead 6-0.

Ansteth started Rochelle’s offense in the bottom of the fifth inning, doubling and scoring on an RBI single from Lodico for the first Lady Hub run of the evening. Sophomore Morgan Smardo then singled from the top of the batting order, plating Lodico to make it a 6-2 game. Back-to-back hits from Sandwich brought an insurance run home in the top of the seventh inning.

Trailing 7-2, Rochelle (5-8) put its first runner on base after McGee drew a full-count walk. With one out, Lodico slapped an RBI double through the left side of the infield before Smardo followed with a double of her own to keep the Lady Hubs in the game. After a popout brought Sandwich within one out of victory, Rochelle junior MeLisa Young delivered a clutch two-run double that scored Lodico and Smardo. McGee then reached on an error, allowing Young to score as well. Sandwich then made a pitching change before a strikeout ended Rochelle’s rally.

“All four seniors have given so much to the program and I really appreciate all of their hard work and everything they’ve done to really help turn this program around,” Suess said.

Kaneland

Rochelle started the week with an Interstate 8 matchup against Kaneland on Monday, falling 10-0 in six innings to drop to 5-7 on the season. Juniors Jordin Dickey and MeLisa Young each recorded hits in the loss.