Free State senior Mayah Daniels (17) winds up for a pitch in Monday's game against Olathe North at FSHS.

When Free State sophomore Lauryn Jones lifted a low pitch into the outfield during the fourth inning Monday, her first thought was it was a simple fly out.

But the ball kept cruising through the air and her softball teammates kept growing louder in the dugout until they all watched the ball sail over the left-field fence for a three-run home run.

It was the first home run of Jones’ high school career, who was mobbed by her teammates when she crossed the plate, and it gave the Firebirds all the breathing room they would need in a 15-9 victory over Olathe North at FSHS.

“It kind of surprised me,” said Jones, who had three hits, three runs and four RBI from the nine-spot in the lineup. “It was little low, which makes sense because I like the lower ones.”

The Firebirds (4-4) trailed by six runs midway through the second inning, giving extra outs to Olathe North’s potent offense via a pair of errors. Combining O-North’s top five hitters in the batting order, they reached base nine times in their first 10 plate appearances.

But when O-North (5-3) senior pitcher Riley Shaw exited for a couple of innings after being hit by a pitch, the Firebirds found their rhythm at the plate.

All nine of Free State’s starters registered a hit in their 15-run performance, which was sparked in the early innings by senior pitcher Mayah Daniels, who drilled an RBI triple and RBI double in her first two trips to the plate, scoring Haley Lockwood-Peterson and Jones.

The Firebirds finally pulled ahead with a six-run fourth inning, which included three straight RBI hits from Jenalee Dickson, Grace Patchen and Annie Roszak.

“We really pulled it together,” Daniels said. “I think we came out a little flat. Once one person starts hitting, it just kind of keeps going and keeps rolling.”

Leading by one run in the fourth, Jones stepped up to the plate and hammered a three-run homer for a 12-8 advantage.

“Our biggest thing was our bats just came alive,” said Jones, who returned to the starting lineup Monday for the first time following an injury. “We all started to gain more focus.”

Once the Firebirds held a lead, they cleaned up their defense and limited the Eagles to one run and seven hits in the final five innings.

In the sixth inning, Free State added three insurance runs via RBI hits from Jones, Dacia Starr and Emma Stanwix. Free State coach Lee Ice credited a sacrifice bunt from Samantha Powell to set up the rally.

“This was a big win,” Ice said. “Now we just have to gain some momentum tomorrow and not play down, so to speak. We played up today. We just have to keep this rolling.”

The Firebirds will travel to Leavenworth at 5:30 tonight.

O-North 350 010 0 — 9 15 3

Free State 231 603 x — 15 17 2

W — Mayah Daniels. L — Jayme Dean.

2B — Alexis Hodapp, Alyssa Jaso, ON; Daniels, Emma Stanwix, Jenalee Dickson, FS. 3B — Chloe Van Kam, ON; Daniels, FS. HR — Lauryn Jones, FS.

FSHS highlights — Jones, 3-for-3, walk, 3 runs, 4 RBI; Daniels, 2-for-3, 2 walks, 3 runs, 2 RBI; Grace Patchen, 2-for-4, run, 2 RBI; Annie Roszak, 1-for-2, 2 walks, 3 runs, RBI; Dickson, 2-for-4, walk, RBI; Stanwix, 2-for-5, RBI; Haley Lockwood-Peterson, 2-for-5, run, RBI; Dacia Starr, 2-for-5, run, RBI.