Free State High found no cure for ace Eric Peterson or Lawrence High on Tuesday.

Peterson, the Firebirds’ scheduled starting pitcher, was in the FSHS dugout with the flu, and the Lions took advantage of his absence in an 11-7 victory over cross-town Free State before an estimated 150 fans at chilly Ice Field.

“He was throwing up all morning,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said of Peterson, a Kansas University signee who tossed a shutout last week against Shawnee Mission South. “You could get 60 percent of him today and nothing the rest of the week or you could hold him back and get 100 percent of him later in the week. It’s a no-brainer.”

LHS anticipated facing Peterson.

“I was real surprised not to see ‘Pedo,'” LHS senior catcher Troy Wingert said. “I figured his senior year he’d throw twice against us.”

The Firebirds (2-1) led 3-0 before the Lions (3-1) scored four runs on one hit and four walks in the third inning. Free State tacked on two runs in the top of the fourth for a brief 5-4 lead. LHS countered with five runs on five hits and two walks in the bottom of the fourth.

LHS junior third baseman Tommy Mangino’s two-run single down the left-field line was the key hit in the fourth.

“As coach, it makes you nervous when it takes you awhile to get going,” LHS coach David Petry said. “I was impressed that our kids didn’t panic, kept their composure and kept playing.”

LHS junior Aaron Madill was the winning pitcher, allowing two runs in 31/3 innings of relief. Madill, who posted a save in a victory over Olathe North last week, entered the contest in the fourth with the score tied at 4-all, one out, the bases loaded and a 2-0 count on Kyle Unruh.

“He goes out there, doesn’t think and goes out there and throws,” Petry said of Madill. “Sometimes guys try to think too much and it affects how they throw.”

With a wind chill around 40 degrees and wind gusts at 30 mph, Free State’s three pitchers combined for nine walks and hit two batters. LHS scored twice on bases-loaded walks and once on a hit batter.

“Their pitchers kept us off balance and we were kind of guessing up there,” said Wingert, who had RBIs on two walks. “We had to be patient and that’s when we got our base hits. We’ll take walks when we get them, especially when the bases are loaded.”

Free State outhit LHS, 11-8, with five doubles. The doubles by Chris Barr, Matt Berner, Unruh, Matt Lane and Tyler Blankenship all were to left field. FSHS stranded 11 runners and was retired in order just once  in the top of the sixth. LHS left seven runners on base and was never retired in order.

“The big statistic is we left 11 guys on base,” Hill said. “Against a great team you can’t do that. You have to get the clutch hit. I think that will come. We lost and don’t like it, but we took a step in the right direction.”

FSHS junior catcher Chris Coleman went 3-for-4.

“We left too many people on base,” Coleman said. “They had a lot of good pitching up there and we missed a couple of opportunities.”

LHS senior center fielder Rob Scott went 3-for-4 with two runs. Senior designated hitter Joe Bell’s double in the fourth was Lawrence’s lone extra-base hit.

In the second inning, the game was delayed briefly while the umpire motioned FSHS first-base coach Brad Stoll, who appeared to be stealing signs, back in the coach’s box at Petry’s request.

“Brad looks for advantages and there’s nothing wrong with that,” Petry said. “The thing I said to the umpire was I wanted to make sure he stayed in the coach’s box. Last year he was down the line almost in fair territory trying to pick signs from our catcher.

“That’s part of baseball. As long as he’s staying in the box, I don’t have a problem.”

With the victory, LHS tied the city series at 4-all. The two teams will meet again on April 27 at Free State.

The Lions will play host to Shawnee Mission West at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Ice Field. Free State will play a 4:30 p.m. contest Thursday against Shawnee Mission East at 3&2 Complex in Lenexa.