Free State pitcher Megan Smith delivers to the plate during the first inning against Olathe North Thursday, April 16, 2009 at Free State High School.

Free State batter Rosie Hull comes around on a pitch for a hit during the first inning against Olathe North Thursday, April 16, 2009 at Free State High School.

Free State’s softball players came close to swinging brooms Tuesday night. Instead, they might as well have swung broomsticks.

Free State captured the first game of a Sunflower League doubleheader with Olathe North, 6-2, but O-North right-hander Mo O’Connor fanned 16, and the Eagles rallied to take the nightcap, 3-2, at Free State’s field.

“That’s the first time all year we’ve faced a rise-ball pitcher,” Free State outfielder Rosie Hull said of O’Connor, “and it took awhile for us to adjust.”

Added twin sister Maggie Hull: “(O’Connor) has a really great rise-ball.”

The Firebirds collected five hits in the second game, but Maggie Hull was the only one who gave O’Connor’s rise-ball a ride.

After five innings, O-North led, 1-0, and 13 of the 15 Free State outs had been whiffs. But in the bottom of the sixth, Rosie Hull led off with a bunt single and stole second.

Minutes later, Maggie Hull hammered an O’Connor pitch over the center fielder’s head, scoring Rosie Hull. And as Maggie Hull raced for third, the throw from the outfield hit her and bounced away, allowing her to score the lead run.

“Honestly, I knew I had two strikes on me, and I shortened up my swing,” Maggie said of the Firebirds’ only extra-base hit of the night.

Unfortunately for Free State, however, the 2-1 lead and potential sweep was short-lived because the Eagles touched Megan Smith for four singles and the go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh.

“Megan didn’t lose velocity,” Free State coach Pam Pine said, “but her ball stopped rising.”

Smith, a junior left-hander, was magnificent in the opener, retiring the side in order in all but the second inning, when the Eagles used their only three hits to score a pair of runs.

Smith wasn’t quite as effective in the second game, but she pitched well enough to win.

“We just didn’t help her out at the plate,” Pine said.

Free State (4-6), eager to snap a four-game losing streak, struck quickly against O-North right-hander Rachel Hein in the opener, scoring four runs in the first inning as Lexi Smith and Alex Hill stroked a pair of two-run singles.