When Hart senior Juli Strange led off the first inning, she had no idea what was about to unfold.

Nor could she have predicted that the first frame would define the game.

Hart recorded seven hits and capitalized on three errors by Highland High of Palmdale in a seven-run first inning, giving pitchers Emili Escamilla and Taylor Britt all they needed in a 7-1 victory Tuesday at Newhall Park.

In contrast to Highland, the Indians played near-flawless defense and didn’t give up a run until the sixth inning.

“Our defense has been solid all year,” said Hart head coach Steve Calendo. “They may be young, but they play hard. They are all starting to mold on defense. On offense, we may not have the big star power like last year, but we’ve got girls across the board that can hit the ball.”

The Indians (6-1-1) graduated nine seniors last year, which accounted for the bulk of the team’s offense.

Regardless, Hart jumped on freshman pitcher Marissa Harmon and hit through the lineup in the first inning, starting with Strange, who finished 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI in the frame.

“We are hot right now,” Strange said. “We were last week, too. (You) just try to put the ball in play and make things happen.”

The Indians won five games last week by a combined score of 29-11, including a 4-1 win over the Bulldogs (2-3) on Saturday in the fifth-place game of the Hart Varsity Tournament.

After Strange’s leadoff single on Tuesday, teammate Brenna Carlson drove her home on a single to right field, making the score 1-0.

The Indians went up 4-0 after Blake Lewis singled to center field, scoring Carlson.

But Highland misplayed the ball in the outfield, allowing Lauren Anderson and Jessica Jones to score.

Subsequent RBI singles by Elizabeth Henry and Strange scored Lewis and Paxton Provost, respectively, pushed Hart’s lead to 6-0.

Carlson added the team’s final run, when her ground ball short allowed Henry to score.

“I think the girls have to realize they need to step up at their positions and can’t just rely on the pitcher,” said Highland co-head coach Dan Morrow. “You can’t field with forks instead of gloves.”

The Bulldogs elected not to start No. 1 pitcher Aryn Feickert, who recently committed to Oregon State.

However, Feickert took over to start the second inning and didn’t surrender another run.

Escamilla was equally dominant, pitching four innings with six strikeouts, while only giving up one hit and one walk.

“I feel very confident in my team, my batters and my defense,” Escamilla said. “I know they have my back out there.”

Britt took over when Escamilla left in the top of the fifth inning and struck out the first two batters she faced.

Britt finished with four strikeouts, two hits, a walk and one earned run, which came on an RBI single by Emily Sanchez, which scored Alexis Taube in the top of the sixth.

Taube led the Bulldogs at the plate, batting 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Carlson finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Henry was 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored.

Feickert struck out seven in five innings of work, with one walk and no hits.