photo by: John Young

Lawrence High's Devin Lauts (22) slides past Free State catcher Jaden Moore to score a run during their game Thursday at Hoglund Ballpark. The Firebirds beat the Lions, 7-4, in eight innings.

Sitting in the middle of Free State High’s batting order, junior Zion Bowlin knows his main job is to bring runners to the plate.

With a large crowd at Kansas University’s Hoglund Ballpark for the second chapter of the City Showdown, Bowlin delivered in big moments, leading the Firebirds to a 7-4 comeback victory in eight innings on Thursday.

The Firebirds scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning, boosted by errors on a pair of sacrifice bunts. The bottom three hitters in the lineup all reached base, including an RBI single from junior catcher Jaden Moore, who did a fist pump at first base when he drove in the go-ahead run.

With the bases loaded and one out against Lawrence closer Brad Kincaid, FSHS junior third baseman Zion Bowlin smashed a two-run single into right field on a nine-pitch at-bat. Bowlin fell behind in the count, 0-2, after Kincaid dropped two curveballs in for strikes.

“I knew I was just going to fight,” Bowlin said. “He kept throwing me fastballs. I knew I was going to hit his fastball. I wasn’t going to lose on his fastball.”

It was Bowlin who extended the game for the Firebirds, drilling a game-tying RBI single into right field in the top of the sixth inning to score junior Jacob Pavlyak. In the fifth inning, Bowlin hit a leadoff single and scored on a RBI single from senior Parker Tietjen.

“I just stopped thinking about trying to crank it over the fence or try do something big,” Bowlin said. “I just needed to stay simple and just do what I usually do.”

For the third time in their past four games, the Firebirds (16-4) ended up with a double-digit hit total. Only this time, they struggled to bring those runners across the plate. The Firebirds left 11 runners on base, including four straight innings with runners stranded on second and third.

Lawrence (8-12) also prevented a few runs with strong defense. Gudde was thrown out at the plate in the second inning on a relay from left fielder Luke Padia and third baseman Parker Kirkpatrick. Padia made an over-the-shoulder catch in the fifth inning, likely saving a run.

“You leave that many guys on, and in particular, that many guys in scoring position, you don’t often win,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “I thought Lawrence played really, really well. For us to persevere is a credit to our kids and their competitiveness and the fact that they are getting better.”

The Lions took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning against Free State starter Trevor Munsch when sophomore Devin Lauts smashed a double to the wall in left-center field. He scored on a fielder’s choice, sliding ahead of a throw from FSHS second baseman Mikey Corbett on a ground ball. LHS sophomore pinch-runner Reese Mangan added another run, scoring on a double steal.

In the sixth and seventh innings, the Lions left a runner in scoring position against Free State senior closer Hunter Gudde, who has only allowed three earned runs in 45 1?3 innings this season.

“I just know I have to keep the same strategy that I have when no runners are on base,” Gudde said. “Keep throwing ground balls and staying in the zone and doing what I usually do.”

Gudde was moved into the closer role about a month ago, giving the Firebirds a dominant arm in the bullpen.

The Lions scored one run in the eighth inning when sophomore catcher Reese Carmona scored on an error.

“The No. 1 factor in his success is his competitiveness,” Hill said of Gudde. “He is a fierce competitor and he wants the ball in those situations. It takes a special kind of kid to thrive in that kind of environment and he does.”

It wasn’t the cleanest win, especially when the two teams combined for eight errors, but in the City Showdown, there’s no style points.

“It’s always emotional,” Gudde said, “especially after football and basketball season. We finally got them twice this year and that’s really great for our side of town, at least, and really special for all of us.”

Free State 001 011 04 — 7 11 3

Lawrence 100 200 01 — 4 7 5

W — Hunter Gudde, 6-1. L — Brad Kincaid, 3-2.

2B — Devin Lauts, LHS.

LHS highlights — Kincaid, 1-for-3, walk, RBI; Luke Padia, 2-for-4, RBI; Andrew Stewart, 2-for-4; Ethan Taylor, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 K.

FSHS highlights — Zion Bowlin, 3-for-4, walk, 3 RBI, run; Kyle Abrahamson, 1-for-4, walk, 2 RBI; Gudde, 3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K; Parker Tietjen, 2-for-5, RBI; Trevor Munsch, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.