Overland Park ? Matt Lane hit a two-run homer on a two-strike, two-out pitch Tuesday night to give Free State a 7-5 victory over Shawnee Mission North in eight innings.

“Our kids showed a lot of composure and courage to come back,” said Free State baseball coach Mike Hill, whose team squandered a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning.

Lane ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth when North (10-6) took a 5-3 lead. Blake Dickson (3-0) closed the door on the Indians with 21¼3 innings of relief.

Free State (15-2) forced extra innings in the top of the seventh.

With the bases loaded, Tyler Blankenship’s groundout scored one run. Jake Hoover followed with a walk that reloaded the bases, and David Allen drew another walk that forced in a run.

The Firebirds, however, left the bases loaded.

“It was one of those nights you were almost certain things weren’t going to go your way,” Hill said. “We left about 13 runners on base.”

After Lane’s second homer of the season gave Free State the lead, shortstop Matt Berner started a game-ending double play in the bottom of the inning.

The Firebirds will play again today at Shawnee Mission West.