Firebirds softball team salvages split with Olathe Northwest

? The Free State softball team split a doubleheader with Olathe Northwest on Tuesday at CBAC, losing the first game, 10-2, and winning the second game, 7-5.

With the second game tied 5-5 in the seventh inning, Alex Hill singled and moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Courtney Parker. Samantha O’Brien then doubled — on what was supposed to be a pitch-out — to score Hill. Elizabeth Hazlett drove in O’Brien with a single to give Free State a two-run lead.

In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, the Ravens hit a single, but the game ended one batter later on a called third strike, the Firebirds only strikeout of the game.

O’Brien, Hazlett and Whitney Rothwell combined to go 9-for-10. O’Brien added two RBIs. Hill went 2-for-4.

Free State (7-9) will play its last home game at 6:15 p.m. Thursday against Shawnee Mission North. The seniors will be honored.