Free State softball falters late in regional semifinal loss to Wichita Northwest

Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports, File Photo

Free State’s Rory Scarlett connects her swing on a pitch during a game earlier this season.

TOPEKA — Free State softball was unable to hold an early lead in a season-ending 6-4 loss to Wichita Northwest in regionals on Wednesday.

The Firebirds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, keyed by Mallory Hice’s two-RBI triple to deep right field. Avery Sack’s two-out single scored Sarai Preston.

With runners in scoring position, Northwest center fielder Tatiana McPherson gloved Maya Friedman’s liner that was headed for the gap, and that easily would have scored both runs.

Firebirds’ pitcher Jace Feurt was unable to work out of a jam in the third, surrendering a two-out triple to Peyton Price that plated a pair of runs. Northwest then knotted the contest at three via Lily Hoffman’s RBI-double.

Free State (10-14) regained a 4-3 lead in the fourth as Preston’s hard-hit triple scored Friedman from second.

The bottom of the fifth proved disastrous for Free State, as a pair of infield errors led to a three-run frame and a 6-4 Northwest lead.

Hoffman, Northwest’s starting pitcher, worked out of a jam in the sixth after yielding back-to-back singles to Friedman and Sophia Halton to open the inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Hoffman stymied the heart of Free State’s order — coming up with a critical strikeout of Preston, and then inducing an inning-ending groundout of AJ Collins.

“We had opportunities to get out of a couple of innings, but couldn’t make a play,” Free State head coach Charley Bowen said. “A couple more mistakes, and next thing you know, we’re down 6-4.

“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves.”

Down to their final three outs, Feurt opened the seventh with a single. But the Firebirds were unable to capitalize, as a strikeout and two groundouts brought the contest to a close.

For the Firebirds, Halton and Friedman notched multi-hit performances, while Hice, Preston, and Sack each drove in runs.

In the circle, Feurt tossed 89 pitches over five and one-third innings, striking out three while allowing six runs (zero earned). Hoffman, whose screwball kept Free State off-balance, notched the complete-game victory — striking out six, while firing 130 pitches.

Bowen said he was pleased with his squad’s hot start offensively, but that the team has shown a propensity to fizzle out in the later innings.

“That’s what happened again today,” he said. “We had opportunities to score more runs, and then went flat a little bit.”

Added Bowen: “I hoped they learned this year that to win tough games and tight games like this, you have to eliminate some of the mistakes.”

The Firebirds lose six seniors: starters Halton, Riley Schierling, and Rory Scarlett — as well as Kade Hoffman, Lailah Lewis, and Allie Shimanek.

Halton, a defensive dynamo who hit atop the order, was a four-year varsity starter for the team.
“It’s nice coming into a year knowing that you have a shortstop that can take over that position,” Bowen said. “I couldn’t be any prouder of her, and she’s going to be deeply missed.”

Bowen said that Schierling was another in a long line of “great center fielders” the program has boasted in recent years.” He added that Scarlett was rock solid as the team’s backstop.

Despite losing multiple starters who occupied premium positions, Bowen said he’s excited about the future outlook of the program. The Firebirds return Preston, a left fielder, who led the team in nearly every major statistical category.

Preston concluded the season with a .368 batting average, 23 runs scored, 19 RBI, two home runs, and 15 stolen bases. AJ Collins, who pitches and plays first base, also returns. Collins recorded a .341 batting average, to go along with three round-trippers and 18 RBI.

Also returning are Friedman (.311 BA), Feurt (.305 BA), Mallory Hice (.282 BA), and Sack (17 hits, 12 RBI).

Pitching should be in abundance as staff mainstays Feurt, Collins, and Sack look to improve upon their 2026 campaigns.

“We also have some young kids coming up that we want to start to mold and work with,” Bowen said.

“I want them to push each other next year and make it hard for us to decide who we want to play.”

Preston said she’s already looking forward to her senior campaign next season, but added that she experienced a level of team camaraderie this year that wasn’t always present in past seasons.

“I built bonds with a lot more people this year, and it was just really special,” she said. “We were definitely a very cohesive team this year, and it was different from past teams I’ve been on.

… “We have a lot of good building blocks. And once we put it all together, I think we’ll be dangerous.”