Most of Lawrence High’s softball players are known for their hitting, and they proved why Thursday against Shawnee Mission North.

The Lions exploded for 13 hits in an 11-4 victory at LHS and have won seven of their last nine games. They’ve scored at least 10 runs in those seven wins.

The first five LHS batters — Morgan Byrn, Annie Grammer, Sophie Taylor, Jolona Shield and Brook Sumonja — reached base to open the bottom of the first inning. Grammer hit an RBI triple to deep center field, Taylor had a RBI single to left, and Shield added a RBI double to left.

After a loss Tuesday against Olathe Northwest, the Lions (8-6) wanted to jump to a quick lead.

“Everyone was frustrated on Tuesday,” Taylor said. “It was a home game, and we haven’t had one in a while, and everyone was real excited, and people were feeling good today. We just hit really well. Once one person hits well, the next person hits well, and it’s a chain reaction.”

The bats weren’t quite as dominant in the following innings, but the Lions continued to score. Taylor hit an RBI single in the second inning, scoring Byrn, before making it all the way around the bases following a throwing error.

In the third, senior Kenzie Garvin hit a leadoff single and scored on a two-out single by senior Megan Sumonja. Shield added an RBI double, and sophomore Rhi Emerson hit an RBI single in the fourth inning.

“We come out on fire. We’ve just got to get some consistency,” LHS coach Joe Dee Tarbutton said. “We get a little relaxed.”

Taylor, a junior shortstop who earned Sunflower League Newcomer of the Year honors last year, has been the catalyst at the top of the lineup. Tuesday’s loss was the first game this season she didn’t record multiple hits or an RBI, but she returned to her dominant ways Thursday, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

“Tuesday was a little bit rough, and I was definitely disappointed,” Taylor said. “So I wanted to make sure today I came back and got confidence back.”

Meanwhile, Shield was frustrating the Indians with her pitches. She allowed just one earned run in seven innings, striking out five. SM North scored three runs in the sixth inning, aided by a pair of LHS errors.

When Shield is in the zone, not much can faze her. Not even when she’s forced to change catchers. After freshman Darian Chamberlain was forced to exit the game in the fourth inning, Garvin moved behind the plate for the first time since the eighth grade. Garvin promptly tossed out two runners attempting to steal second base.

“It’s been awhile, but it was fun,” said Garvin, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and hit a two-run double in the sixth inning.

“Jo threw a great game for us, and we played some good defense,” Tarbutton added. “But our hitting will only get better. Some of our better hitters have peeled off a little bit, and some of our other ones have stepped up, which is a good thing.”

The Lions will play Olathe North in a doubleheader at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday at LHS.

SM North 010 003 0 — 4 7 4

Lawrence 321 203 x — 11 13 2

W — Jolona Shield. L — Hannah Redick.

2B — Jolona Shield (2), Kenzie Garvin, LHS. 3B — Annie Grammer, LHS.

LHS highlights — Shield, 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 K, 2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Morgan Byrn, 2-for-4, 2 runs; Sophie Taylor, 3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Garvin, 2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Rhi Emerson, 2-for-3, RBI.