FORRESTON — A fly ball into right field led to a critical fielding error and the game-winning run for the Rochelle Lady Hubs during their varsity softball game at Forreston on Tuesday evening.

With the score tied after seven innings, Rochelle and Forreston went into the top of the eighth inning, where junior Madigan Williams drew a lead-off walk and freshman Mya Martinez reached on an error at second base. Sophomore Camryn Metzger stepped up with two outs in the frame, sending a ball into right field, where an error on Forreston’s Chloe Weegens enabled Martinez to round the bases and score from first to secure Rochelle’s 8-7 walk-off win over the Cardinals. 

Senior Lauren Dyer led the Lady Hubs (7-18, 0-9 Interstate 8) on offense, finishing 4 for 5 with two runs and one RBI in the win. Freshmen Cheyenne Somers and Audrina Rodriguez totaled a combined three hits and three RBIs for the Lady Hubs, who will conclude conference action at Ottawa on Wednesday. Dyer pitched four innings and struck out six batters against Forreston.

The Cardinals (3-26, 0-12 NUIC North) took the first lead of the game, scoring one run on an RBI double from Aubrey Sanders in the bottom of the third inning. Rochelle responded with a trio of runs in the top of the fourth inning, where Rodriguez slapped a two-run single to the shortstop side and Somers followed with an RBI double to right field in the next at-bat.

Forreston’s Alivia Ingram laid down a bunt single for an RBI in the bottom of the fourth inning. Leading 3-2, Rochelle tacked on another run in the top of the fifth inning, where Metzger hit a ground ball and reached on an error at third base to score Dyer. A lead-off single from Somers sparked a three-run sixth inning for the Lady Hubs, who surged ahead 7-2 after sophomore Jaclynn Lira’s RBI single as well as a sacrifice fly from Martinez and an RBI single from Dyer.

Forreston mounted a furious comeback in the top of the seventh inning, rallying for five runs on four hits and three walks to send the game into extra frames. Kylie Dieterman delivered a key knock for the Cardinals, smacking an RBI single with the bases loaded and one out. Forreston added two more runs after Emma Hundertmark walked and Maddie Chesnek sent an RBI single into left field, making the score 7-6 before a two-out walk to Isabella Thiel tied the game.

An error in the bottom of the eighth put the tying run on base for the Cardinals, but an out on an interference call preceded a groundout to the second baseman Metzger that ended the game. Somers pitched the final four innings for the Lady Hubs, striking out seven batters.