Austin Van Meter/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Jace Feurt and Rory Scarlett collide as the latter catches a pop fly against Olathe Northwest during a softball game on March 27 at Free State High School in Lawrence.
An early three-run cushion wasn’t quite enough for Free State softball in its season opener on Tuesday, as visiting Olathe Northwest rallied for a 4-3 victory.
Free State head coach Charley Bowen said that his club’s inability to build off its early advantage “probably told a big story” as the Firebirds were shut down for six frames after exploding for three in the first.
“We came out in the first inning, scored three runs, and then we didn’t score another run,” Bowen told reporters.
The Firebirds got off to a promising start as AJ Collins laced a two-RBI single to left-center field, scoring Sophia Halton and Avery Sack while advancing Sarai Preston to third.
Sophomore pitcher Jace Feurt then aided her own cause by driving in Preston on a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 Free State lead.
“You get two more runs in that inning, and it might put the game away,” Bowen said.
A baserunning gaffe by Free State in the bottom of the second enabled Ravens’ starting pitcher Rylee Rushton to quickly retire the side. Free State’s bats continued to go silent as the Firebirds were set down in order in the third.
Austin Van Meter/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Rory Scarlett swings at a pitch during a softball game against Olathe Northwest on March 27 at Free State High School in Lawrence.
Feurt found herself in trouble in the fourth after yielding a double to Avery Laha to open the frame. Laha advanced to third on a passed ball and was eventually plated on Cat Richman’s fielder’s choice groundout as the Ravens trailed 3-1.
The inning came to a close on an infield pop-out as Feurt collided with catcher Rory Scarlett on the play, stranding a runner in scoring position. Feurt was slow to get back to her feet, but remained in the game after being evaluated by coaches.
In the bottom of the fourth, Collins reached base on a two-out single and advanced to second after Kenzie Daneke was plunked by a Rushton pitch. But the threat subsided after Riley Shierling flew out to right field to end the inning.
Back at the plate, Olathe Northwest was quickly in business when Anni Gaughan led off the fifth with a hard-hit single. After advancing to second on a fielder’s choice groundout, Gaughan was moved to third when Maia Waddell dropped down a nearly perfect bunt.
Feurt was unable to escape unscathed after Leah Laird’s two-out single to left-center field pushed across the run, as Olathe Northwest trailed 3-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Free State’s Mallory Hice reached second as the junior infielder reached second after the ball dropped between players in shallow right field. Hice advanced to third on a Sack groundout, but was left stranded after Sarai Preston flew out on a sharply hit ball to deep right field.
Feurt quickly encountered trouble in the top of the sixth, as Laha doubled to deep center field. That was followed by Richman’s base knock to left field to put runners on the corners with no outs.
Austin Van Meter/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Jace Feurt focuses right before winding up a pitch against Olathe Northwest during a softball game on March 27 at Free State High School in Lawrence.
Feurt was on the cusp of escaping the jam after inducing a groundout, followed by Sophia Halton’s precision throw to gun down a runner at home for the inning’s second out.
But with runners again on the corners, Gaughan’s double to center field plated both runners as the Ravens went on top 4-3. Rushton then set down the Firebirds in order in the bottom of the seventh, via two fly outs and a game-ending groundout to secure the complete-game victory.
After yielding three runs in the opening frame, Rushton said she shifted to a strategy that was centered on pounding the zone.
“My whole mindset changed,” she said of her opening frame struggles. “I realized that I needed to start getting the ball in there more.
“I mixed my rise and drop to get them to swing at high stuff, and then went down low,” Rushton said, as she was also painting the outside corners to keep Free State’s batters off balance.
Rushton said she never felt rattled, despite being saddled with the early deficit.
“Because I knew my team would get hits,” she said.
Austin Van Meter/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Mallary Hice slides into third base ahead of throw during a softball game against Olathe Northwest on March 27 at Free State High School in Lawrence.
Bowen noted that the Firebirds were making solid contact off Rushton, but that “they were making some great catches.”
Added Bowen of the offensive struggles, “We got tight a little bit.”
“We came out in the first inning relaxed, put some balls in play, and scored some runs,” he said. “But in the first game, I expect some of that.”
Bowen also lauded his sophomore hurler for tossing seven strong innings.
“I thought Jace did a great job,” he said, adding that “she settled in” and was able to minimize damage.
… “We did a lot of good things to win the game. Our bats got cold, and we needed to score a couple more runs.”
Free State (0-1) returns to the diamond Thursday for a home tilt with Shawnee Mission North. First pitch is set for 5:30 pm.
Austin Van Meter/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Riley Schierling readies to catch a deep shot near the ball against Olathe Northwest during a softball game on March 27 at Free State High School in Lawrence.
Austin Van Meter/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Sarai Preston smiles as she awaits a fist bump from her coach during a softball game against Olathe Northwest on March 27 at Free State High School in Lawrence.
