The Lawrence Outlaws caught every break except the last one Friday night against the Springfield (Mo.) Glendale Falcons.

With the tying run on second, Austin Meyers’ smash to the hole at third perhaps should have tied the game. Instead, it bounded upwards after hitting the lip of the grass, allowing shortstop Tyler Goss to glove it and toss to second for the final out in Springfield’s 5-4 victory.

“I thought I hit it well,” Meyers said, “but it just wasn’t enough.”

The out ended a frantic three-run rally filled with fortunate bounces for the Outlaws.

Matt Avila started it with a one-out walk, and Travis Sanders reached after first baseman Mike Kickam bobbled a grounder and failed to beat him to the bag.

Sam Anderson followed with a bouncer to third, but Dan Kickam’s low throw allowed him to reach safely.

After a strikeout, Jordan Guntert contributed an infield single and Leland Kueser blooped a hit to left.

That brought up Meyers, who had a chance to tie it with two runners on.

“I just wanted to hit it,” Meyers said. “I didn’t want to strike out. You don’t want to be that guy who ends the game when you come back.”

The Outlaws’ third baseman fell behind 0-2, then laid off a tempting breaking ball before smashing an inside fastball into the hole between third and short.

“I thought it was getting through, but he made a good play,” Meyers said. “There’s nothing we could do about it.”

Goss also turned the tide offensively for Springfield.

With the game tied at one in the fifth, the shortstop blasted a two-run homer to left to give the Falcons a 3-1 lead.

“They’re a good hitting team,” Outlaws’ starter Drew Hulse said. “I missed a few spots, and they took advantage of it.”

Matt Avila led Lawrence at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double and run scored.

The Lawrence Raiders face Springfield-Glendale in a 10 a.m. doubleheader today at Free State. Meanwhile, the Outlaws play again at 3 p.m. Sunday as part of the abbreviated Raider Invitational tournament.

Hulse said he couldn’t help but wish one more break would have gone the Outlaws’ way.

“If it doesn’t hit that lip, that ball goes through,” Hulse said. “We score that run and tie it, and who knows what happens next.”

Springfield-Glendale 5, Lawrence Outlaws 4

Springfield-Glendale 100 021 1 – 5 12 3

Lawrence 010 000 3 – 4 7 0

W-Ryan Wheat. L-Drew Hulse.

Outlaws Highlights-Matt Avila 2-for-2, double, walk; Leland Kueser 1-for-3, run; Travis Sanders 1-for-3, run.