ROCHELLE — Each of the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team’s four seniors found meaningful ways to contribute on Saturday afternoon, when the purple and white celebrated their Senior Day with a nonconference doubleheader against Ashton-Franklin Center.

While the Lady Hubs dropped the opener in heartbreaking fashion, with the Raiders scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to win 6-4 in extras, Rochelle fought back in the finale, tallying five runs over the last three frames to beat Ashton-Franklin Center 9-8 and snap an 11-game losing streak. The four seniors honored in a pregame ceremony Saturday morning include Ella Alfano, Macy Belmonte, Kendell Frankenberry and Savannah Nasca.

“Ella has given four solid years behind the plate,” head coach Deanna Jacobs said. “She has been a huge piece of our game, between catching, hitting and helping younger players. Macy has stepped into the manager position since she was unable to play. She has been working hard at rehab and we are excited about the opportunity to see her play next year at Waubonsee [Community College]. Kendell and Savannah have played outfield at the varsity level the last two years and they have worked hard on their hitting and keeping the team’s morale up.”

Rochelle (5-16, 0-10 Interstate 8) will host Plano on Monday before continuing nonconference play with a road game against Dixon on Tuesday evening. The Lady Hubs conclude the regular season with a nonconference home matchup against Streator on Thursday evening. 

Game 1

Ashton-Franklin Center took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, where Nadia Near hit a two-out single and scored on an RBI triple from Kylie Mershon. Senior Kendell Frankenberry tied the game in the bottom of the second inning, reaching on an RBI infield single that allowed freshman Dylan Etes to cross home plate. Frankenberry went 2-for-3 in the game for Rochelle.

Freshmen Emma Heller and Briel Metzger combined to pitch all nine innings for the Lady Hubs, with Heller striking out eight batters and walking only one in six frames while Metzger added three frames and limited the Raiders to two runs. An RBI single from Leah O’Brien capped off a two-run inning in the top of the sixth for the Raiders, who held a 3-1 lead before freshman Jaclynn Lira tied the score with a clutch two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Rochelle put seven runners on base over the final three innings, but the Lady Hubs were only able to score one run in the bottom of the ninth, where sophomore Madigan Williams drew a bases-loaded walk. Ashton-Franklin Center tallied three runs in the top of the ninth inning, where Brianna Gonnerman gave the Raiders a 6-3 lead with a two-run single up the middle.

Game 2

Reese Polk singled and scored on a passed ball to give Ashton-Franklin Center a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After an 0-for-5 outing in the first game of the doubleheader, senior Ella Alfano broke out in the second game, smacking a two-run triple in the top of the second inning that sparked a three-run frame for the Lady Hubs. Freshman Camryn Metzger delivered an RBI single in the next at-bat, allowing Alfano to trot home and put Rochelle ahead 3-1.

Both teams tallied one run in the third inning, with Polk tripling and scoring for the Raiders and freshman Dylan Etes walking and scoring on an error for the Lady Hubs. Ashton-Franklin Center took control of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, rallying for six runs on three hits including an RBI double from Natalee VanNatta and a two-run single from Alexis Settles.

Trailing 8-4, Rochelle fought back in the top of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on four hits including RBI singles from Alfano and freshman Phelisity Lopez. Freshman Jaclynn Lira singled and scored on a passed ball in the top of the sixth inning, where the Lady Hubs tallied two runs and took the lead after senior Kendell Frankenberry smacked a two-out RBI single. 

Freshmen Emma Heller and Briel Metzger again combined to do the pitching, with Heller throwing four innings and striking out eight batters while Metzger added two strikeouts in three innings. The Lady Hubs struck out three Raiders over the final two innings to preserve the win.