Free State outfielder Remington Samuels slides to make a catch to end the inning against Shawnee Mission Northwest on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at Free State High School. Watching is infielder Lily Ross.

Free State’s softball team has struggled in close games this season. Sometimes the defense faltered, and in others the bats just wouldn’t cash in with runners in scoring position. That’s not the case anymore.

Junior Emily Bermel hit a two-out, run-scoring single and senior Meredith Morris provided strong pitching in a 1-0 victory over Shawnee Mission Northwest in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at FSHS. The Firebirds cruised 16-1 in the second game to complete their third sweep in a row.

In Game 1, Samuels and Paige Corcoran opened the fourth inning with walks before moving into scoring position on a well-placed sacrifice bunt by junior Elyse Boxberger. With two outs, Bermel drilled a single to left to score Samuels.

That was all Morris would need as she struck out seven and allowed only four hits in seven innings. The Firebirds also provided great defense around her.

With a runner on third and one out in the first inning, Bermel, the center fielder, made a catch in left-center and sent a perfect throw to the plate ahead of the runner to end the frame. Remington Samuels made a diving catch in left field in the fourth and shortstop Lily Ross made a couple of nice plays on grounders.

How much does strong defense help Morris in the pitching circle?

“It’s definitely a spark in all of our minds,” Morris said. “It gives us a different mindset that, ‘Yes we can do it,’ when the game gets tight. When the going gets tough and runners get on, we know we can make those extra plays. It definitely just brings some motivation.”

“That’s what won the game: Pitching, defense and timely hitting,” FSHS coach Lee Ice added. “That’s basically the three things you look for in a game and we got those.”

In Game 2, SMNW (1-7) scored a run in the top of the first, before the Firebirds (7-3) started a 10-run rally, highlighted by a two-run single from Kylie Cobb and RBI singles from six others.

Free State added six runs in the third to reach the 15-run mercy rule, with Byrn hitting a two-run homer and Emily Byers ending the game on a run-scoring single.

“The last at-bat I had struck out, so I knew the pitch was coming,” Byrn said. “I just wanted to swing as hard as I can and hope for the best.”

The Firebirds struggled at the beginning of the season, opening with a 1-3 record and struggling to win low-scoring games. Now their confidence is as high as ever.

“At the beginning of the season, we had our heads down a lot more,” Byrn said. “Now you can see us coming alive and we’re just here to play ball and here to crush some more teams.”

Free State will head on the road to face Olathe North and Olathe Northwest starting at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Free State 1-16, Shawnee Mission Northwest 0-1

SMNW 000 000 0 — 0 4 0

Free State 000 100 x — 1 4 0

W — Meredith Morris (3-2). L — Lindsey Marcus.

2B — Taylor Roberts, SM North; Morris, FS.

SMNW 100 — 1 2 3

Free State (10)06 — 16 16 1

W — Kaley Delg (4-1). L — Katie Stutheit.

2B — Emily Byers, Meredith Morris, FS. 3B — Remington Samuels, FS. HR — Cali Byrn, FS.

Free State highlights — Kylie Cobb, 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Byers, 3-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Samuels, 3-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Byrn, 2-for-3, 3 RBI.