Lawrence High senior Sophie Taylor (4) pulls down an infield fly ball as teammates Annie Grammer, left, and Grace Neilson (3) watch during the Lions' home game against Topeka Seaman on Friday afternoon.

Lawrence High softball coach Joe Dee Tarbutton knew his team would have a tough time against one of the top teams in the state, Topeka Seaman. He just wishes his squad could’ve made it tougher on the Vikings.

The Lions were swept and held scoreless in their season opener on Friday, losing 16-0 in the first game and 12-0 in the nightcap, paying the price for every error and runner left on base.

In last year’s season opener against Seaman, the Lions were outscored by 26 runs in the doubleheader.

“Seaman is 5A, but I’d put them in the top three, easy, in 5A and 6A,” Tarbutton said. “We knew they were going to be tough. We wanted to obviously not be that bad. We wanted to stay in the game, and we wanted to get some better swings in.”

Both games were shortened by the mercy rule, but took different paths to get there. In the first game, the Lions (0-2) struggled to make contact against Seaman senior right-hander Hailey Reed, who has signed to play at the University of Pacific.

LHS senior shortstop Sophie Taylor, a Northern Colorado signee, hit a leadoff triple into the right-field gap in the first inning, but couldn’t advance when Reed struck out two and forced a pop out on a bunt.

The Lions only had two more base-runners for the rest of the game — a single by Taylor in the third inning, and junior Sydney O’Brien reached on an error in the fourth. Reed, who has a 32-5 record in her career, struck out 11 in six innings.

Meanwhile, Lawrence’s defense made an uncharacteristic six errors, extending innings for a powerful lineup.

The Vikings (2-0) scored seven runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Lauren Mills, who hit a solo home run in the frame, then hit a three-run double when the batting order came around again.

“Defensively, we’ve been looking really good in practice,” Tarbutton said. “I know it was a little windy in that first game, but we were kind of surprised with our defense. But they hit the crud out of the ball.”

The Lions cleaned up their defense in the nightcap with a few strong stops at third base by senior Audrina Hidalgo and a double play turned by Taylor, junior Annie Grammer and senior Amber Flummerfelt.

The problem was a couple of long rallies from the Seaman lineup, giving up seven runs in the third inning and five runs in the fifth.

At the plate, the Lions had seven hits in the second game and left eight runners on base. Freshman Kampbell Kilburn went 3-for-3, including a double, and freshman right fielder Chloe Taylor hit an infield single.

“I’m telling you, they both impressed me. They weren’t scared,” Tarbutton said of the freshmen. “Kampbell had a great game. She always has a real smooth swing and good glove. A little short for a first baseman, but she does a great job over there for us.”

It was a disappointing start to the season for the Lions, but they are still confident in their future.

“We’re content right now because we feel the athletic ability we’ve got, we can build on it,” Tarbutton said.

The Lions will play host to Leavenworth at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Topeka Seaman 16-12, Lawrence 0-0

Game 1

Seaman 323 017 — 16 14 1

Lawrence 000 000 — 0 2 6

W — Hailey Reed. L — Amber Flummerfelt (0-1).

2B — Lauren Mills (2), Reed, Lexi Price, TS. 3B — Sophie Taylor, LHS. HR — Mills, TS.

LHS highlights — Taylor, 2-for-3, stolen base; Sydney O’Brien, 2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 K.

Game 2

Seaman 007 05 — 12 13 0

Lawrence 000 00 — 0 7 1

W — Erin Boyd. L — Zoe Brewer (0-1).

2B — Kampbell Kilburn, LHS; Boyd, Mills, TS.

LHS highlights — Kilburn, 3-for-3, stolen base; Morgan Husman, 1-for-3; Audrina Hidalgo, 1-for-2; Chloe Taylor, 1-for-2.