The Lawrence High baseball team deserved a break in the close-game department.

Thursday afternoon, it got one against Shawnee Mission South. The Lions eked out a 2-1 win at Ice Field.

“We put ourselves in position to win,” LHS coach David Petry said. “That’s something we’ve been able to do all season, but today the result was a win.”

With the score tied at 1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, LHS loaded the bases — thanks mostly to SM South pitcher Bennett Askew, who plunked Courtney Hutchison and Ryan Engel on consecutive pitches.

Up came Carl Lisher, whose two-out rip to shortstop was bobbled, scoring Hutchison. The Lions took advantage of five SM South errors.

“Everything’s been on us,” Lisher said. “Finally, everything went our way. Hopefully, it will stay that way.”

Besides a rocky first inning, everything clicked for LHS pitcher David Freeman, who pitched the first seven-inning complete game for the Lions this season.

Petry said his team had struggled to put together hitting, pitching and defense. He wasn’t thrilled at his club’s production at the plate and on the field, but credited Freeman’s arm.

“I thought we got an outstanding pitching performance to give us the win,” Petry said.

Freeman, who struck out six, gave up one run off three hits in the first inning, but settled down and confused South with his curveball.

Lawrence High's Carl Lisher slaps a ball to center field against Shawnee Mission South. Lisher had a game-winning RBI in the seventh inning, leading the Lions past the Raiders, 2-1, Thursday at Ice Field.

The Lions (6-7) scored in the bottom of the second after John Parker scored on a Joe Crane single up the middle.

LHS kept the Raiders at bay thanks to solid defense, too. In the top of the seventh, center fielder Engel turned his back and made an acrobatic catch on a ball hit by Raider Ryan Vogel for the third out.

Askew pitched all seven innings and struck out five for Shawnee Mission South (3-8).

Lawrence travels today to 3&2 Complex for a game against Shawnee Mission North.

Lawrence 2, Shawnee Mission South 1

SMS — 100 000 0 — 1 5 5

Lawrence High second baseman Joe Crane throws to first base for an out. The Lions beat Shawnee Mission South 2-1 on Thursday at Ice Field.

LHS — 010 000 1 — 2 4 1

W — David Freeman. L — Bennett Askew.

2B — LHS: Carl Lisher.