SAULT STE. MARIE — The Hillman softball team’s run in the Division 4 state tournament came to an end on Tuesday by the slimmest of margins.

An RBI single by Laura Bush to score Chloe May was enough for Pickford to edge the Tigers 5-4 in a quarterfinal in Sault Ste. Marie.

Julia Taratuta got on base for Hillman after an infield error to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning and later advanced to second base, but the Panthers escaped the threat after retiring the next three batters.

Hillman scored two runs each in the first and fourth innings and Pickford scored four runs in the second inning.

Saige Flaugher led Hillman with four hits, an RBI and two runs scored; Nicole Barbeau added two hits, an RBI and a run scored; Cassidy Benac had an RBI; Taratuta had a hit and Regina Morrison scored a run.

Barbeau pitched a complete game for Hillman, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Hillman took an early lead with a pair of first-inning runs. Flaugher scored Hillman’s first run after Benac flew out to short and Barbeau later scored on a passed ball.

Pickford responded in the top of the second and scored a pair of runs on an infield error. With two outs, the Panthers tacked on two runs after Madison Thurmes scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch and Guild singled to score Ahna Prucha.

Both teams went scoreless until Hillman scored twice more in the bottom of the fourth. Flaugher singled to score Morrison and Barbeau followed with an RBI single to score Flaugher.

Pickford scored the winning run with two outs in the top of the sixth. A ground ball from May turned into an infield error that allowed her to advance to second. One batter later, Bush singled her home for a 5-4 Pickford lead.

Hillman was retired 1-2-3 in the fifth and left one runner on in the sixth.

Pickford pitcher Finley Hudecek went seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

Pickford advances to the semifinals and will play Unionville-Sebewaing on Friday.

The loss brings a successful Hillman season to an end. The Tigers won more than 30 games, prevailed in extra innings to win both district and regional championships and won the North Star League’s Little Dipper division title.

Hillman’s regional championship was its second consecutive regional title and third since 2015.