Free State junior pitcher Trevor Munsch releases the ball during the Firebirds' game against Shawnee Mission South Friday at FSHS.

Free State High’s baseball players couldn’t be happier to see junior pitcher Trevor Munsch healthy again.

Munsch, who missed a month this season because of a mild elbow strain in his throwing arm, tossed five scoreless innings in his second start back on the mound to help the Firebirds to a 2-0 victory over Shawnee Mission South on Friday at FSHS.

The 6-foot-4, 160-pound left-hander also tossed five scoreless innings last week in a loss to Olathe Northwest. On Friday, Munsch gave up only four hits while striking out five and walking two.

“I was pretty happy,” Munsch said. “I didn’t have my best stuff, but it’s only my second start since my injury. I put up zeroes and couldn’t do anything better, really.”

The Firebirds (14-4, ranked No. 2 in Class 6A) provided Munsch with some immediate run support in the first inning. Senior Cooper Karlin drew a one-out walk and senior Joel Spain followed with a single. Karlin scored on a groundout, and Spain went around the bases on a two-out double from junior Hunter Gudde.

“It was a fastball, a little bit inside,” Gudde said of his RBI double to left field. “It was just right down the middle and I knew I could take it as far as I could.”

After Free State gave Munsch the lead, he made sure not to give it back. He stranded a runner on third base in the second inning, and forced a ground ball in the third inning with a runner on third base, which turned into an out during a rundown.

Afterward, Munsch struck out three hitters and stayed out of trouble by using his change-up.

“He’s a talented young man with a bright future,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “His injury kept him out for a month, so he’s not back to where he was when he went down, but he’ll get there. Actually he threw his best innings in the fourth and fifth. His change-up was really, really good.”

The Firebirds were happy to see Munsch pitching so well, but they were frustrated they couldn’t add to their lead. They had only one hit after the first inning — a single by Spain in the third inning. They also drew three walks against SM South (6-12) starter Trevor Alpert.

“We didn’t hit the ball hard on the ground,” Gudde said. “We had a lot of popups. We didn’t have very good at-bats either.”

“We were anemic offensively,” Hill added. “We did not have a good approach today. … We’ve been in a little funk offensively and that happens to every team. We’ll just get it out of our system now.”

Senior closer Casey Hearnen relived Munsch in the sixth inning, after Munsch was nearing his pitch count and allowed a leadoff single, and tossed two hitless innings.

“We’ve put him in that situation for a couple of years,” Hill said of Hearnen, who earned his fourth save of the year. “Typically if he’s on the mound, it’s going to be a close ballgame late. Not a lot of kids can respond to that kind of environment, but he embraces it and he’s been very successful.”

For the past few weeks, Free State pitchers have been feeding off each other with strong start after strong start. Adding Munsch to the mix has only helped them become better.

“He’s our best pitcher and he’s really going to help us,” Gudde said. “We missed him all year and we’re glad he’s back.”

The Firebirds will travel to Lawrence High for the City Showdown at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

SM South 000 000 0 — 0 4 1

Free State 200 000 x — 2 3 1

W — Trevor Munsch, 2-0. L — Trevor Alpert. Sv — Casey Hearnen, 4.

2B — Hunter Gudde, FS.

FSHS highlights — Munsch, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K; Hearnen, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K; Cooper Karlin, 0-for-1, 2 walks, run; Joel Spain, 2-for-3, run; Gudde, 1-for-3, RBI.