CLAREMORE, OKLA. ? Colin Toalson allowed three hits with six strikeouts over the final four innings and helped his cause offensively with two hits in three at-bats as Free State High slipped past Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo, 5-4, in the Claremore Four-State Baseball Festival on Friday.

Toalson — and the Firebirds — improved to 2-0.

“That was against a quality team, and good pitching on both sides kept it where it was,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “At the end of the day, I think those close games pay off. To get to where we want to get, as we preach to the team, we have to win those one-run games, and the kids did a good job. The one crooked inning we gave up was the result of a few odd plays here and there. It’s not that we were getting hit all over the park.”

Trent Johnson started for the Firebirds and surrendered four hits with two strikeouts over the first three innings.

“Our pitching,” Hill said, “has been good this early in the season.”

Montana Samuels went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, and Tim Lewis also went 2-for-3.

Free State will face Ozark, Mo., in the Festival today.