Lawrence High senior Audrina Hidalgo turns to fire the ball to first base after fielding a bunt during the Lions' game against Olathe South Thursday evening at LHS.

Facing the defending Class 6A state champions, Lawrence High’s softball team struggled to stop Olathe South’s hitters on Thursday in a 16-2 loss at LHS.

LHS senior Annie Grammer hit a leadoff home run in the first inning, but the Lions (1-3) added their only other run in the fifth inning, avoiding the mercy rule, when senior Sami Mills hit an RBI single, scoring junior Sydney O’Brien.

The Falcons had 19 hits and scored at least three runs in four separate innings.

Lawrence will go on the road for a doubleheader against Olathe East at 4:15 p.m. Thursday.

O-South 330 320 5 — 16 19 2

Lawrence 100 010 0 — 2 11 1

W — Lexi Storrer. L — Amber Flummerfelt (0-2).

2B — Sami Mills, Audrina Hidalgo, Sydney O’Brien, LHS; Kala Holder (2), Storrer, Lindsey Delana, Casey Shell, OS. 3B — Bailey Kleinschmit, OS. HR — Annie Grammer, LHS; Abby Weber, Kylie Pfeiffer, OS.

LHS highlights — Grammer, 2-for-2, run, RBI, 2 walks; Mills, 2-for-3, RBI; Hidalgo, 3-for-3; O’Brien, 1-for-2, run.