ROCHELLE — The Lady Hub varsity softball team managed only five runs over its first three games of the season this past week. Rochelle exceeded that count in only the first inning Saturday, when the Lady Hubs compiled 33 runs across two games in their doubleheader sweep against Indian Creek. Rochelle (2-3) will face Sycamore at home on Wednesday.

Game 1

The Lady Hubs scored seven first-inning runs Saturday morning, cruising to a 17-7 victory over the Timberwolves. Junior Jordin Dickey led the charge for Rochelle, finishing 4-for-5 with two extra-base hits and a team-leading five RBIs in the victory. Senior Kendal Ansteth added three RBIs, while senior Bella Lodico struck out eight batters in six innings on the pitcher’s mound.

“We really worked together to hit our girls around the bases and we made solid contact with the ball,” Dickey said. “When we hit the ball, we hit it far. It always feels really good to get our first win and we’re beginning to come together as a team. We’re all happy with the win.”

RBI singles from Dickey and Ansteth gave Rochelle a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After senior Sawyer McGee came through with a two-run double, sophomore Addie Friestad stepped up to the plate, belting a three-run homer to cap off the team’s seven-run frame.

“It felt really good to get our first win,” Friestad said. “I always go through a routine before every at-bat and even though I didn’t feel like I hit the ball as hard as I could, I was still able to hit it out. We read the ball well today and I thought we backed each other up on defense.”

Indian Creek earned two runs back in the second inning, but a sacrifice fly from Ansteth scored Dickey to give the Lady Hubs an 8-3 lead. The Timberwolves plated four in the third inning.

Holding a slim 8-7 lead, Rochelle added three runs in the bottom of the third behind Dickey’s two-run double and junior MeLisa Young’s RBI single. After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Rochelle iced the win with a six-run sixth inning. Junior Ashley Knight delivered an RBI double early in the frame, while sophomore Morgan Smardo followed with a two-run double. RBIs from Ansteth and senior Zoe Hardcastle helped seal the victory for the Lady Hubs.

Game 2

In a wild back-and-forth battle, Rochelle outlasted Indian Creek 16-13 in the finale Saturday afternoon. Smardo took the mound for the Lady Hubs, striking out 11 batters while also finishing 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and five steals. Dickey, Friestad, Knight and freshman Ella Alfano each went 2-for-4 in the victory, with Friestad hitting her second homer of the day. Lodico went 2-for-3 with a triple, a double and two RBIs to aid the Lady Hub offense.

Kaneland

The Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team hosted Kaneland on Friday, falling by a score of 14-1 and falling to 0-3 in the Interstate 8 Conference. Lodico and Smardo each recorded four strikeouts on the mound, while Smardo, McGee, Friestad and Dickey each had one hit.