In a game where they were out-hit by six, Lone Tree softball relied on solid defense and clutch pitching to escape Tuesday night with a win over Hillcrest 5-3.

Both pitchers had a clean opening inning, although Malia Yoder had to battle through some early walks. In the second, Lone Tree jumped up front after Abby Zaruba earned an infield single and ran her way to first run of the game on a passed ball. Zaruba would finish with two of the three Lion hits, scoring twice.

For the Lions, Alex Dautremont worked out of a bases loaded situation in the second, but surrendered a third-inning double to Yoder who would tie the game at one on an RBI-groundout from Claire Withrow. In the bottom half, it was Vivian Zaruba who would come across after taking a walk, one of seven from Yoder on the evening.

Dautremont stayed locked in on the zone and would allow nothing more in her four innings. The junior allowed five hits, but only walked one with seven punchouts. Vivian Zaruba took her place in the fifth, and in almost identical fashion to the top of the third, Hillcrest got another double from Yoder and Withrow’s second run batted in.

Again, Lone Tree answered in the following inning, while Zaruba settled in. Lydia Beachy led off the sixth with a triple, but the Lion pitcher sent the next three Ravens down in order. An RBI from Olivia Magruder plated the first of two for Lone Tree in the bottom half and proved to be the difference. Hillcrest stranded eight baserunners Tuesday, dropping to 7-9 overall.

Lone Tree, meanwhile, improved to 11-5 with a trip to Calamus-Wheatland tonight. It’s five games in as many days for the Ravens, the second of which they host this afternoon against Central Lee.