ROCHELLE — A seven-run frame smothered a promising start for the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity softball team during Wednesday’s Interstate 8 Conference finale against Morris.

Leading 2-1 entering the top of the fifth inning, Rochelle appeared primed for its first conference win of the season. Instead, Morris rallied for seven runs on six hits before adding eight runs over the final two frames to cruise over the Lady Hubs 16-2. Rochelle (4-15, 0-10 Interstate 8) will return home for a nonconference doubleheader against Ashton-Franklin Center on Saturday.

The Lady Hubs held a 1-0 lead after the bottom of the second inning, where freshman Jaclynn Lira sent a lead-off single down the left-field line before scoring on a passed ball. Morris tied the score in the top of the fourth inning after Karson Dransfeldt walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mylie Hughes. Lira scored Rochelle’s second run of the game, drawing a one-out walk before crossing home plate on a passed ball to put the Lady Hubs up 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth.

Morris broke the game wide open with seven runs in the top of the fifth inning, where the Redskins received an RBI single from Tessa Shannon along with a two-run triple from Halie Olson and a two-run homer from Hughes. Addy Hackett added an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning for the Redskins, who added three runs to take an 11-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning after a two-run single from Cami Pfeifer as well as an RBI double from Olson.

Morris clinched its win with five runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning. Freshman Emma Heller started in the pitcher’s circle for the Lady Hubs, throwing six and one-third innings while striking out five batters. Freshman Briel Metzger tossed the final two-thirds of an inning.