Free State High pitcher Elizabeth Patton (40) celebrates a strike out with teammate Emily Byers (45) during the Firebirds' game against Olathe Northwest Thursday at FSHS.

Free State High’s softball team had a simple game plan against Olathe Northwest on Thursday: Don’t let leadoff hitters reach base in each inning and keep crooked numbers off of the scoreboard.

The Firebirds followed their plan to near perfection. But anything less than perfect makes it tough against last season’s Class 6A state runner-up and the Firebirds paid the price for their mistakes in a 4-2 loss in their home opener at FSHS.

The Ravens (5-0) only put the leadoff hitter on base twice — doubles from sophomore Shayna Espy in the fourth and sixth innings. In both innings, the Ravens ended up with a pair of runs and the Firebirds didn’t help themselves with a couple of errors.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” FSHS coach Lee Ice said. “I told them we played with them and had them on the ropes for five innings so I’m pretty pleased with the effort and game plan that we executed. We pitched well. That’s a good team.”

The Firebirds opened with a 2-0 lead in the first inning against ONW junior pitcher Aubree Herrin, who shut them out twice last season, including a season-ending loss in the sub-state championship game.

In the first inning, Free State (1-2) loaded the bases from singles by seniors Hailey Jump and Kate Stanwix and junior Dacia Starr, setting up senior Emily Byers for a two-run double into the right-center gap. Stanwix was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first.

“I had two strikes and I just knew I had to swing,” said Byers, who went 2-for-3 and lined into a double play. “I finally made good contact.”

The Firebirds had seven hits in the first three innings, but they couldn’t plate any more runs and they stranded two runners in the third inning.

Then Free State went hitless for the final four innings, finishing with 10 strikeouts, including four called third strikes.

“She struck us out a lot last year and we were expecting some really good movement,” Byers said. “She left a lot over the plate. I think our bats just went down a little bit. We got excited and we just kind of flatlined.”

Ice added: “We squared up some balls that would be off the wall or out of the ballpark. Today, with the wind blowing in 30 or 40 miles per hour, they are popups.”

Facing a lineup that’s scored at least seven runs in every game this season, Free State senior right-hander Elizabeth Patton was at her best. She struck out five in seven innings, only giving up two earned runs on six hits.

Along with strong command in the circle, Patton received some help from her defense. In the second inning, Jump sprinted from center field into the left-center gap and made a diving catch near the warning track.

In the fifth inning, junior shortstop Mayah Daniels made a diving catch to her left on a scorching line drive up the middle.

“We’ve gotten better,” Starr said. “We have the parts now. We just have to put it all together.”

Northwest 000 202 0 — 4 6 0

Free State 200 000 0 — 2 7 3

W — Aubree Herrin. L — Elizabeth Patton (1-1).

2B — Emily Byers, FS; Shayna Espy (2), ONW.

FSHS highlights — Byers, 2-for-3, 2 RBI; Dacia Starr, 2-for-3, run; Patton, 1-for-2, stolen base, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.