Riding a three-game win streak, the Lone Tree Lion baseball team made it four-in-a-row last night with a 14-3 trouncing of their rival Highland in a game heard live on the KCII3 Stream.

The Lions got off to a hot start early, plating four runs in the bottom of the first and second all while holding the Huskies scoreless to make it an 8-0 lead heading into the third. After a scoreless third frame, Highland would finally plate their first run of the night when senior Ryker Miller came across on a passed ball to make it 8-1. However, Lone Tree would answer right back with another four spot in their half of the inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double to left field by Jacoby Moffitt and an RBI single from leadoff hitter Brock Nebergall to make the gap 11 runs headed to the fifth. Threatened by the mercy rule, Landon Roling would come through for Highland on a two-RBI single to right field to score Hunter Seibel and teammate Logan McFarland to put their team back in contention late in the going. Their efforts would fall short, as the Lions finished the job in the sixth with a two spot to lock up the big rivalry win.

Unofficially, Lone Tree scored 14 runs on seven hits and committed a single error. Highland scored three runs on five hits and had three errors. Co-Washington County Hospital and Clinics Players of the Game, Moffitt and Owen Eden, combined to hit 3/4 with a pair of singles, a double, six RBI and three runs scored. Winning pitcher Jack Patterson tossed five-and-two-thirds innings, allowing all three Highland earned runs on five hits, four walks and nine punchouts. The senior joined KCII Sports live on the Area Game of the Week postgame show to talk about his stellar pitching performance.

“Just confidence,” Patterson said. “I know the first time against these guys [Highland], they could see it [my pitches] pretty well, so just knowing I have my stuff and I can throw it in the zone and get it past these guys.”

Eden recorded the final out in relief for Patterson, striking out Seibel in the top of the sixth. Highland was led by two singles and two RBI from sophomore Landon Roling. Caleb Wheeler took the loss for the Huskies, tossing an inning and a third, allowing the first eight runs, four earned, on two hits, seven walks and no strikeouts.

Lone Tree improves to 7-8 overall and returns to action tonight on the campus of the University of Iowa when they face the Calamus-Wheatland Warriors at Duane Banks Stadium in Iowa City. Highland drops to 8-6 and will take the diamond this afternoon in the next installment of the Area Game of the Week when they travel to take on the Hillcrest Academy Ravens in a game you can hear on the KCII3 Stream beginning with pregame coverage at 12:30 p.m. from Kalona.