In his first at-bat, Scott Heitshusen hit the ball as hard as he could with a wooden bat.

Luckily for the Lawrence Raiders, he hit his second one a little harder.

After tripling in a run in the first inning, Heitshusen launched a three-run homer in the third, sparking the Raiders in a 10-5 baseball victory over the Ozark (Mo.) Merchants on Friday at the Al Ice Memorial Woodbat Classic at Hoglund Ballpark.

“I was actually looking curveball, but I saw fastball up in the zone,” Heitshusen said, “so I just unloaded on him.”

The right-fielder smashed the first ball he saw, but it only made it as far as the warning track in left-center.

Raiders left handed pitcher Max Ellenbecker throws against the Ozark Merchants during the Al Ice Woodbat baseball tournament Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark. The Raiders rallied to defeat the Merchants 10-5 in seven innings.

His second ball found a bit more sweet spot and also a little more air, landing in the trees just beyond the fence in left.

The blast gave Lawrence the lead at 4-3 and helped make up for some early miscues.

The Raiders committed three consecutive errors in the first inning, helping to push across three runs for the Merchants to make it 3-1.

“I think we were really excited to try to get ahead early,” Raiders designated hitter Lorenzo Ricketts said. “We were almost trying to do too much with it instead of just playing the game.”

Lawrence settled down soon enough.

After his home run in the third, Heitshusen started a two-run fifth with a double as the Raiders regained the lead at 6-5.

Raiders second baseman Nick Madl, right, throws to first during during a 10-5 victory over the Ozark (Mo.) Merchants. Lawrence won the Al Ice Memorial Woodbat Classic game Friday at Hoglund Ballpark.

Needing only a single for the cycle, the right-handed hitter was left frustrated when he was walked in the sixth and intentionally walked in the seventh with two on and two out.

“He caught fire tonight. I would have intentionally walked him,” Ricketts said. “I really don’t blame them. He’s a pretty scary hitter.”

Brett Lisher made Ozark pay for dancing around Heitshusen.

Lisher delivered a three-run double to left, giving the Raiders a 10-5 advantage.

“He excels in big-time situations,” Raiders coach Troy Wingert said. “As soon as I saw they threw up the right arm to walk Scott, there was no doubt in my mind Brett was going to come through with something big.”

Heitshusen was the hero for Lawrence, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, three runs scored, a stolen base and a scoreless inning in relief of winning pitcher Max Ellenbecker.

Ricketts added three hits and a pair of runs scored.

Raiders short stop Travis Ice swings against the Ozark Merchants during the Al Ice Woodbat baseball tournament Friday night at Hoglund Ballpark. Ice had one run in the Raiders' 10-5 victory.

“When you come out and kick the ball around and don’t take care of the baseball in the first inning, it looks like it’s going to be a long day for us,” Wingert said. “Credit our kids. We stuck in it, and we knew we were going to be in for a battle.”

The Raiders will finish pool play at 8 tonight against the Blue Valley West Jaguars at Hoglund Ballpark.

Lawrence Raiders 10, Ozark Merchants 5

Lawrence 103 020 4 – 10 11 4

Ozark 300 200 0 – 5 4 3

W – Max Ellenbecker. L – Ethan Mather.

Raiders highlights – Scott Heitshusen 3-for-3, HR, triple, double, four RBIs, three runs, stolen base; Lorenzo Ricketts 3-for-5, two runs, RBI; Brett Lisher 1-for-5, double, 3 RBIs. Raiders record – 14-2.