Free State High first baseman Lorenzo Ricketts has struggled through the first three games of the season, so he’s taking hits any way he can get them.

Riding an 0-for-3 day at the plate that included two hard-hit balls, Ricketts blooped a single into right field in the bottom of the seventh that scored Travis Ice from second base to give the Firebirds a 2-1 baseball victory Tuesday over Shawnee Mission North at FSHS.

“It’s been rough,” Ricketts said of his start. “I just wanted to sit on a fastball and take it where it was pitched. I got an outside fastball, and the outfielder had a bad read on it. : That’s how the game goes.”

Left-hander Travis Blankenship started for Free State and dominated the SMN lineup. After allowing an infield single to the first batter, Blankenship retired nine batters in a row before trouble found him in the fourth.

With a runner on first base and two outs, clean-up hitter Tyler Naughton lined a single into right field, sending the runner to third. As the throw came in, shortstop Robby Price cut the ball off and tried to get Naughton, who took a wide turn at first base. But Price’s throw got away, allowing the runner to score to make it 1-all.

Blankenship didn’t allow hit the rest of the game, allowing only a walk to lead off the seventh inning. He finished with four strikeouts, two hits and no earned runs in six-plus innings.

“He was really good,” Free State coach Mike Hill said. “His fastball still had good pop late. He pretty much overmatched them for much of the day.”

Free State cost itself a run and maybe even the victory in the bottom of the sixth, when Brett Lisher doubled to left field but was ruled out for missing first base.

Scott Heitshusen came in to pitch in the top of the seventh after Blankenship put the go-ahead run on base with a walk. Catcher Andy Petz promptly threw out Joe Cowan, who was trying to steal second base, before Heitshusen struck out Scott Keener to end the inning.

Ricketts’ RBI single then sent the crowd home happy and gave Free State confidence.

“A win is a win,” Blankenship said. “It definitely boosts us up for our trip to Claremore, and we’re going to go in on a high note.”

Free State (3-0) will play in the Four State Festival this weekend in Claremore, Okla.