The Lawrence Mavericks just never make it easy on their crosstown rivals.

Lawrence outlaws infielder Travis Ice, top, attempts to turn a double play against the Mavericks. The Outlaws won, 6-5, Saturday at Free State Field.

What was meant to be a tuneup Saturday for Tuesday’s Zone tournament turned into a dogfight for the Lawrence Outlaws, which prevailed, 6-5, over the Mavericks at Free State Field.

Just 11 days before, the younger Mavericks split a doubleheader with the Outlaws.

“It wasn’t real clean to start off with, but we found a way to win,” Outlaws coach Brad Romme said. “That’s something we haven’t been doing a lot of this summer is finishing games.”

The Outlaws held a 5-3 lead entering the ninth inning. But Patrick Johnson was hit by a pitch, and Jordan Guntert followed with a triple to center off Outlaw reliever Kyle Cross to pull the Mavs within one.

After a groundout and strikeout failed to score the run, Matt Avila came through with an infield single – his third hit of the game – to tie it at five.

Cross redeemed himself in the bottom half of the frame.

After a Travis Ice double to right-center and a Nick Ayre bunt, Cross lined a shot that went off the top of shortstop Travis Sanders’ glove for the game-winning single.

Lawrence Outlaws pitcher Jeff Sneegas winds up for a pitch against the Mavericks. The Outlaws beat the Mavericks, 6-5, on Saturday at Free State High.

The Outlaws trailed much of the game before exploding in a four-run seventh.

The key hit came from Ayre, who had been moved down to the three-hole because of the absence of Andy Petz.

With two runners on, Ayre drove a double into the right-center gap to give the Outlaws their first lead at 5-3.

“I was trying to drive it into the ground, but I happened to get it up in the air,” Ayre said. “But it’ll do. I can’t complain about it.”

Entering Zone play, the Outlaws (12-15) will play at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Manhattan.

“I’m pretty sure we’re going to do a lot better than people think we’re going to do,” Ayre said. “Our record doesn’t show it, but everybody’s ready, and everybody’s making plays now.”