A 10-game winless streak against rival Highland came to an end for the Lone Tree softball team last night, as they captured their first victory over the Huskies since July of 2020 by a 11-6 final score in a game heard live on the KCII3 Stream.

The Lions would plate the game’s first three runs in the top half of the third on three straight hits from seniors Kayleigh Rundlett, Alex Dautremont and Sami Branson. However, Highland found their answer in the bottom half with a two RBI double from their lone senior, Lilly Barre. Lone Tree would score two unanswered in the fourth and one more in the fifth before Highland brought three of their own across to close the gap to 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth frame. Adding on two insurance runs in the sixth with sophomores Macie Wageman and Addison McCullough, Lone Tree would take an 8-5 lead into the final frame. However, with relief pitcher Joslyn Prottsman newly entered for fellow freshman Larissa Murphy, the Lions would again do damage, plating their final three runs on one hit in the seventh. Down to their last three outs, the Huskies tried to make a comeback with Barre launching a deep home run to left field to pull within five. The Highland rally would sputter after that, as Lone Tree withstood the hostile environment to capture the rivalry win.

Unofficially, Lone Tree scored 11 runs on 12 hits and one error, while Highland scored six runs on nine hits and committed three errors. Senior Vivian Zaruba and McCullough combined for six hits, while Branson and Dautremont had two RBI each. Abby Zaruba took the win in the circle, tossing a complete game, allowing six runs on nine hits, all earned, two walks and six punchouts. Zaruba joined KCII Sports after the game to explain what it meant to be the first team to beat Highland in almost five years.

“It feels really good,” Zaruba said. “I feel like we worked so well as a team and we really came together, so I think that’s what really helped us win the game.”

Highland was led by Kamryn Fink and Barre’s combined 6/7 night with three RBI, all by Barre. Murphy took the loss in the circle for the Huskies, throwing five innings and allowing eight runs on nine hits, four earned, a walk and two strikeouts.

Lone Tree improves to 3-3 overall, while Highland drops to 2-3 on the season. The Huskies will next face Mediapolis in Riverside Monday, while the Lions play at home against Columbus tonight in the next installment of the Area Game of the Week.