Free State High’s softball team split a doubleheader Saturday against St. Thomas Aquinas at FSHS, but the Firebirds walked away from it feeling like they had just been swept.

After winning the opener, 6-5, the Firebirds lost the nightcap, 12-11.

FSHS led the Saints, 7-2, in Game Two before a 40-minute lightning delay with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Free State added two more runs to complete the fifth and plated another pair in the sixth, but the Saints scored five runs in the sixth and five in the seventh.

Free State runner Kylie Cobb was out on a double play during the Firebirds' game against St. Thomas Aquinas Saturday, May 9, 2015, at FSHS.

“There’s no way a team should score 10 runs in the last two innings against a ball club that is as good as we can be,” FSHS coach Lee Ice said. “As I told the kids, you’ve got to play all 21 outs, and that’s what can happen against anybody.”

The Firebirds scored six runs on seven hits, including RBI doubles from Kate Stanwix and Cali Byrn, in the bottom of the second to take control in Game Two. FSHS starting pitcher Mayah Daniels was also in a zone before the lightning delay, holding the Saints to two runs over five frames.

But once the lightning delay ended, the Saints’ bats began to strike, beginning with a Bailey Zuniga solo homer to start the sixth. After that, two walks, a single, an error, a wild pitch and a deep sacrifice fly to center accounted for the final four runs of the inning.

FSHS appeared to snag momentum right back with two runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a Kylie Cobb RBI single, but the added insurance wasn’t enough.

Free State shortstop Lily Ross grabs a ground ball up the middle during the Firebirds' game against St. Thomas Aquinas, Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Free State.

Elizabeth Patton came in to relieve Daniels with one out in the seventh, but Patton, the winning pitcher from Game One, could not contain the Saints in Game Two. After a wild pitch from Patton, STA speedster Kat Lane tied the game with a two-RBI triple.

“I was just trying to keep it away from her,” Patton said of pitching to Lane, “because we had two outs at that point, so with their leadoff, we just wanted to get the out. She just got a hold of it.”

Lane then put the Saints ahead when she came home to score after a throw from FSHS catcher Brianna Burenheide back to Patton got away.

Though Patton was not able to finish off Game Two, she went the distance in Game One, allowing five runs on six hits while walking three and striking out five. Although Patton was not pleased with her performance in the opener, she credited the defense behind her and the Firebirds’ offense for fueling FSHS.

“It was more just trying to work through the issues I was having and help the team more than hurt them at that point, but they kept me up,” Patton said.

The Firebirds realize they will have to put Saturday’s heartbreaker behind them quickly.

Free State pitcher Elizabeth Patton fields a ball and prepares to throw to first base during the Firebirds' game against St. Thomas Aquinas, Saturday, May 9, 2015, at FSHS.

“We honestly have to forget about it, work through it,” Patton said. “We have Shawnee Mission West Monday, and then (Lawrence High), so we have to make sure we’re prepared for both games. We definitely want to win both games for our seniors on Monday since it is Senior Night.”

The Firebirds’ game against SMW began Thursday, but it was suspended with FSHS leading the Vikings, 14-0, in the first inning. Free State will complete its game against SMW at 2 p.m. Monday at FSHS, before turning around to play LHS at 5:30 p.m.

First Game

Aquinas 200 111 0 — 5 6 1

Free State 011 130 0 — 6 7 0

W — Elizabeth Patton. L — Bailey Zuniga.

2B — Kate Stanwix, Kylie Cobb, FSHS; Paige Wallace, STA. HR — Carney Meade, STA.

Free State highlights – Kylie Cobb 2-for-3, 2B and then scored on two-base error; HBP; Mayah Daniels 2-for-3, 3 RBIs.

Second Game

Aquinas 101 005 5 — 12 12 1

Free State 016 202 0 — 11 15 2

W –Bailey Zuniga. L — Mayah Daniels.

2B — Emily Byers, Kate Stanwix, Cali Byrn 2, FSHS; Carney Meade, Casey Campbell, STA. 3B — Kat Lane, STA. HR — Bailey Zuniga, STA.

Free State highlights – Emily Bermel 2-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 BB; Kylie Cobb 3-for-5, 2 RBIs; Kate Stanwix 2-for-3, RBI, 3 BB; Lily Ross 3-for-5, 2 RBIs.