Lawrence High’s baseball players are no strangers to close games. But somehow, some way they just struggle to find ways to win.

It was no different on Saturday night when the Lions lost to St. James Academy, 7-2, at Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark.

The Lions trailed only 3-2 before the Thunder scored a run without a hit in the sixth inning when a leadoff walk eventually scored on a throwing error following a wild pitch.

In the seventh, St. James scored three runs after the inning was extended by a throwing error following a short dribbler in the infield.

“We’re always close in these games and it boils down to the last couple innings,” junior Brad Kincaid said. “It’s really frustrating.”

The Thunder took a 3-0 lead in the second inning with a two-run single from sophomore Lucas Sheele, who later made his way around the bases because of two balks.

Meanwhile, the Lions (3-10) left five runners on base in the first three innings, including four in scoring position against St. James right-hander Davis Ernsdorff.

“He had control of his change-up and curveball,” Kincaid said. “But I mean, we were hitting him all around. We just have to put, like, two-and-two together and get good (at-bats) back-to-back. I think it just cost us the game there.”

Kincaid helped the Lions break through for a few runs in the fifth inning. Senior third baseman Nate Hulse had a leadoff infield single and junior center fielder Daonte Lowery was hit by a pitch. That brought up Kincaid, who smashed a two-run triple into the right-center gap as the ball bounced past the Thunder’s right fielder who misplayed the ball, cutting the score to 3-2.

“I got a curveball,” Kincaid said. “I was just thinking, ‘This is my time. I’m due for a hit.’ I got a pitch where I wanted it. I was looking curveball and it just went right over the second baseman’s head.”

After the next batter, senior shortstop Michael Sinks, lined out, the Lions tried a squeeze play to tie the game, but senior Zak McAlister couldn’t get his bat on the ball, which left Kincaid running into an out at home plate.

“That’s tough,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “He gets a breaking ball down after the kid threw a bunch of fastballs. It’s just a tough break, but you’ve got to get it down.”

The Lions never put a runner in scoring position again, and St. James added to its lead in the final two innings.

The loss stung, but the Lions were playing with heavy hearts after hearing junior catcher Ivan Hollins’ mother, Schnette, died over the weekend. Hollins missed Friday and Saturday’s games but he wasn’t far from his teammates’ minds.

“We were devastated, obviously,” Kincaid said. “I’ve known him for my whole life. I grew up with him. It’s just terrible. I can’t imagine it. Our team really supports him, though. We’re going to be there for him, no matter what. It’s just heartbreaking.”

The Lions will return to the field on Tuesday to face Shawnee Mission Northwest at 5:30 p.m. at LHS.

St. James 030 001 3 — 7 6 1

Lawrence 000 020 0 — 2 5 3

W — Davis Ernsdorff. L — Nolan Prochaska.

2B — Derek Ripp, SJA. 3B — Brad Kincaid, LHS.

LHS highlights: Prochaska, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; Kincaid, 1-for-3, 2 RBI; Nate Hulse, 2-for-3, run.