Free State High softball coach Pam Pine wanted these two.

That’s why Shawnee Mission North’s doubleheader sweep Monday at FSHS Field was tough to swallow.

“I’m just disappointed,” she said. “We should have beaten these guys and we didn’t.”

The Firebirds’ 5-1 and 7-3 losses weren’t because North was better, but because Free State (4-10) made more mental mistakes. FSHS, which was coming off Thursday’s doubleheader sweep of Shawnee Mission South, committed seven errors, five in the first game.

“We didn’t come in as mentally prepared as we did last Thursday,” FSHS sophomore Jamie Stanclift said. “We didn’t do all the little things that we need to do to win.”

It showed during the first game.

The Firebirds tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning after junior Lacey Baxter led off with a single, advanced to third after singles by sophomore Dacia Sprow and freshman Tricia Dunham, then scored on an illegal pitch.

But North responded with three runs in the top of the sixth, coming off three hits and three FSHS errors.

“It’s the one inning,” Pine said. “We had a lot of errors, which gave them a big inning. They got some hits when they shouldn’t have, and we helped them get them.”

The Firebirds’ spirits never sagged, even when they fell behind 4-1 in the second game.

“You can tell if somebody on the team is down,” Stanclift said. “We try to stay upbeat, but it can get tough when you’re behind.”

Free State High's Felicia Freeman hurls a pitch. The Firebirds lost to SM North, 5-1 and 7-3, Monday at Free State.

FSHS sophomore pitcher Ashley Wagner didn’t allow a hit in the first three innings, but five walks and three wild pitches accounted for the Indians’ runs.

Both teams finished with six hits — Stanclift finished 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI — but the errors doomed FSHS.

And when you expect to win, those errors sting.

“These were two wins I was counting on,” Pine said. “But if you don’t do those little things in the Sunflower League, you’re not going to win.”

FSHS will travel to Olathe District Activities Center Wednesday for a rescheduled game against Olathe South.

SM North 5, Free State 1

SM North 100 003 1 — 5 7 1

Free State 000 010 0 — 1 6 5

W–Lacy Caro; L–Felicia Freeman (3-5).

2B–SMN: Alyssa Blake; Caro.

FSHS highlights: Lacey Baxter 1-for-3, run.

SM North 7, Free State 3

SM North 201 011 2 — 7 6 4

Free State 010 020 0 — 3 6 2

W–Coorp; L–Ashley Wagner.

3B–SMN: Tracy Anderson; FSHS: Jamie Stanclift.

FSHS highlights: Stanclift 3-for-4, RBI, run; Tricia Dunham 1-for-3, RBI; Dacia Sprow 1-for-3, run, 2 stolen bases.