The Lone Tree Lions are closing in a double-digits win streak on the softball diamond after they knocked off the Columbus Wildcats 5-0 last night. Lone Tree took the lead with three runs in the second inning and got two more for insurance in the sixth, but starting pitcher Abby Zaruba didn’t need much help.

The sophomore allowed only five hits and two walks in a complete-game shutout while also collecting eight strikeouts. Senior Rylee Shield led the Lions at the plate with two doubles and two runs batted in, while Zaruba also had a pair of hits and senior Cate Sexton scored two runs to go with her double.

Senior Vivian Zaruba added a hit and scored once as Lone Tree wins its eighth game in a row to improve to 8-4 in the North division of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference and 14-6 overall.

Sophomore Ellie Sanders had a game-high four hits in the lead-off spot to give the Columbus lineup a chance, but they could not break through on the scoreboard.

Junior Kennedy Woepking yielded only one earned run on six hits and three walks to go with six punch-outs, but the Wildcats nonetheless fall to 11-10, including a 6-3 mark in the Super Conference North.

While Columbus is off until their next game Monday against Louisa-Muscatine, Lone Tree is back in action this evening against Hillcrest Academy, and you can hear all the action between the Lions and the Ravens in the KCII Area Game of the Week beginning at 7 o’clock on on 106.1 FM and streaming on KCIIradio.com and the KCII1 app.