Now, the Firebirds need to learn how to finish.
Two days after being no-hit, the Firebirds squandered a five-run lead in the final three innings of a 9-7 loss to Blue Valley North on Thursday at Free State.
"We took a big stride today and that's what we needed to do," said Firebird coach Mike Hill, whose squad suffered a 19-0 loss Tuesday to Olathe North. "We're certainly a lot better than we were two days ago. We had the game under control late and we weren't able to finish off, but the main thing for us is to take a stride and get better and, boy, we did today."
In the bottom of the second inning, the Firebirds (0-2) scored five runs on five hits, an error and a wild pitch. FSHS senior center fielder Jake Coffman had the key hit, smacking a two-run single to center.
Free State hiked its lead to 7-2 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore shortstop Matt Berner led off with a double and scored on a wild pitch. Right fielder Justin Carlsten tripled to knock in catcher Jeremiah Gress, who reached safely on an error.
Carlsten's hit, though, was the Firebirds' last. Free State, which stranded 10 runners, failed to produce a hit in its final 13 plate appearances.
"You hate to lose a game when you're up 7-2 late," Hill said.
Errors -- five of them -- hounded the Firebirds. The Mustangs (4-1) scored seven unearned runs.
"That's the Achilles heel," Hill said of the miscues. "We did things that are characteristic of a young and inexperienced team. Quite frankly, if we're more of a veteran club and get some experience under our belt, I think we finish that thing off pretty early."
The Mustangs scored two runs in the fifth, three in the sixth to tie and two in the seventh. Mustang left fielder Kyle Mulloy delivered a three-run double in the sixth.
Blue Valley North's Aaron Kuddes tripled with one out in the seventh to knock in the winning run. Kuddes, who pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings of relief for the win, eventually scored on a two-out error.
FSHS senior Jake Neu suffered the loss. He allowed six runs -- one earned -- in 3 1/3 innings.
"I think Jake pitched on sheer toughness and competitiveness," Hill said. "He's not overpowering, but he threw for strikes early."
The Firebirds finished with nine hits, including two apiece from Berner and Carlsten. Coffman had two of the Firebirds' five RBIs.
"I think we had our bats going better," Coffman said. "Some of our underclassmen were stepping up big for us. We're just trying to do the little things right, throwing the ball, hitting the ball, fielding the ball."
Next for Free State is crosstown rival Lawrence High. The Firebirds and Lions will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday for one seven-inning game at Free State.
-- Sports writer Steve Rottinghaus can be reached at 832-7152.
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