Missed opportunities, an Olathe South pitcher on top of his game and a little bit of bad luck cost the Lawrence High baseball team its undefeated run.

Olathe South topped Lawrence, 4-2, Friday at Ice Field, giving the Lions their first loss of the season after soaring to a 7-0 start.

“From the time we got here until the game was over, we were pretty flat,” LHS coach David Petry said.

Friday’s defeat no doubt puts a minor scuff on an otherwise sparkling showdown with Free State today. The Firebirds (10-0) are the top-ranked team in Class 6A. Lawrence (7-1) is ranked second.

With the wind blowing hard in the faces of the batters, small ball was the name of the game Friday, and the Falcons scattered four one-run innings to claim victory.

LHS went with senior Aaron Madill on the mound, and for the most part, he was effective. One of Olathe South’s runs was unearned, and in the fifth inning, the Hawks went up 3-1 when Chris Hankins hit a weak ground ball that squeaked by Madill for an infield single, scoring Brad Perkins. It proved to be the winning run.

The Lions never got the necessary big hit with runners on base. In the fifth, the Lions had runners on second and third with nobody out, but couldn’t score. They stranded another runner in the sixth and two more in the seventh. The Lions stranded seven runners, including five in the last three innings.

Will Atkins (3-0) pitched a complete game for Olathe South, giving up two earned runs on five hits.

“Will is one of those guys that says, ‘Hit me, and we’ll play defense,'” Falcons coach Don Perkins said. “He made several big outs today.”

LHS scored a run in the third when Dominick Harrell’s single scored Matt Johnson, and added another one in the sixth when Taylor Martin grounded out, scoring Tommy Mangino.

Lawrence High's Dominick Harrell, right, tags Brent Sierks of Olathe South. Sierks was ruled safe, and South won, 4-2, Friday at Ice Field.

The Lions’ focus quickly shifts to cross-town rival Free State. The two squads will battle at noon today at Free State High, with one team emerging with both bragging rights and a big Sunflower League victory.

“If they’re not ready to play,” Petry said of his team, “it’ll be a pretty quick game. Free State’s just too good.”

Olathe South 4, Lawrence 2

Olathe South 011 010 1 — 4 8 0

Lawrence 001 001 0 — 2 5 2

W — Will Atkins. L– Aaron Madill.

2B: LHS– Spence Chaney.

LHS Highlights: Spence Chaney 1-for-3, 2B; Matt Johnson 1-for-2, R; Dominick Harrell 1-for-3, RBI, SB; Carl Lisher 1-for-3, Tommy Mangino 1-for-3, R.