ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Lady Hub softball team took the field for the first time this season Tuesday evening, hosting Belvidere North in a nonconference varsity matchup. Despite three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Rochelle was unable to keep the Blue Thunder bats at bay, as Belvidere North tallied six runs in the top of the sixth inning to beat the Lady Hubs 15-4.

Sophomore Jaclynn Lira led the Rochelle offense on Tuesday, finishing 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBIs. Senior Lauren Dyer and sophomore Emma Heller each pitched three innings for the Lady Hubs (0-1, 0-0 Interstate 8) who will head south for a tournament at the Futures Sports Complex in Jacksonville on Friday. Rochelle will face Lexington, Hampshire and Pearl City.

Belvidere North broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the second inning, where Alexa Norgard smacked an RBI groundout and Laney Dobbs floated a hit into shallow center field to bring home Josie Yakey. Freshman Mya Martinez recorded Rochelle’s first hit of the season, sending an opposite-field single through the right side in the bottom of the second inning.

The Blue Thunder manufactured two more runs in the top of the third inning, scoring on an RBI groundout from Isabelle Schadle and a ground ball to the shortstop from Dobbs, who reached base on an error to plate Yakey. Junior Madigan Williams delivered a two-out single to center field for the Lady Hubs in the bottom of the third inning, but a strikeout ended the threat.

Belvidere North took control of the game with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Miley Dobbs sparked the four-run frame, smacking an RBI single to right field before Schadle rolled an RBI single to left field three batters later, making the score 6-0. An RBI single from Yakey, who eventually reached third base and scored on a wild pitch, put the Blue Thunder up 8-0.

Needing a spark, Rochelle rallied with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, where sophomore Camryn Metzger drilled a grounder through the right side for an RBI single and the team’s first run of the season. A walk to freshman Cheyenne Somers put two runners on base for Lira, who pounded an RBI single up the middle to bring home Camryn Metzger. Sophomore Briel Metzger kept the rally alive, lining an RBI single into right field to make the score 8-3.

A wild pitch led to one run for the Blue Thunder in the top of the fifth inning. Leading 9-3, Belvidere North capped off its victory with six runs on four hits and two walks in the top of the sixth inning. Rochelle scored the final run of the evening, with Lira bashing a two-out RBI single into left field to score Somers, who reached base on a fielder’s choice in the previous at-bat.

Dyer pitched the first three innings for the Lady Hubs, striking out one batter and holding Belvidere North to three hits. Heller entered in relief and threw the final three innings, striking out seven batters.