ROCHELLE — Freshman Jaclynn Lira singled to help the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team avoid a no-hit shutout during Monday’s Interstate 8 home matchup against LaSalle-Peru.

Freshman Emma Heller fired scoreless frames over the first and second innings for the Lady Hubs, but the Cavalier offense broke through over the middle innings, exploding for eight runs in the third frame and five runs in the fourth frame. LaSalle-Peru added a run in the top of the fifth inning to cruise to a 14-0 win over Rochelle. The Lady Hubs (4-11, 0-7 Interstate 8) will return to the diamond with an Interstate 8 Conference road game against Sycamore on Wednesday.

LaSalle-Peru tallied eight runs on nine hits in the top of the third inning to take an 8-0 lead over the Lady Hubs. The Cavaliers broke the scoreless tie with an RBI double from Addison Duttlinger and a two-run single from Karmen Piano. Ava Lambert followed with an RBI double two batters later, giving LaSalle-Peru a 4-0 advantage before Kelsey Frederick smacked a two-run single. Allie Thome’s RBI double and Duttlinger’s sacrifice fly concluded the frame.

Lambert belted a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning, sparking a five-run frame that put the Cavaliers ahead 13-0. LaSalle-Peru tallied one run on Reese Poole’s RBI groundout in the top of the fifth inning. Lira’s single in the bottom of the fourth inning was Rochelle’s lone hit.