As recent as earlier this week, Lawrence High’s baseball players were making strides at the plate.

The Lions entered the River City Festival on a four-game winning streak, averaging more than six runs per game during that span.

But in the past two days, including a 10-0 loss to Jefferson City (Mo.) at LHS on Friday, the Lions haven’t had much success in the batter’s box.

Facing the top-ranked team in Missouri, the Lions (5-7) only managed two hits against Jefferson City right-hander Joseph Travis in a mercy-rule shortened five innings.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing and maddening,” LHS coach Brad Stoll said. “It makes you scratch your head. It’s a very simple philosophy of just attack fastballs and we’re still taking too many fastballs. I mean, hats off to that kid. He was good.”

The Jays (16-2, No. 1 in Class 5) took advantage of a two-out rally in the third inning against LHS starting pitcher Devin Lauts, reeling off four straight hits after an error helped move runners around the bases. Grant Wood, hitting out of the three-hole, went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs.

Jefferson City added four more runs in the fourth inning, which included a two-run single from Wood.

“You look at their record and the teams that they’re beating and the things that they are doing, there’s a reason they are No. 1 in the Big Class,” Stoll said. “I think Devin would tell you it’s probably not his best stuff. He was catching just too much of the plate and a little too high up in the zone.”

The Lions, trying to attack more fastballs, had trouble at the plate against Travis. LHS junior Andrew Stewart singled in the third inning and sophomore Payton Cummins reached on an infield single in the fifth.

Otherwise, Travis limited base runners with only two walks and kept LHS hitters from making solid contact on his pitches.

“Right now we’re in a funk,” Stoll said. “As good as we were last week, we’re in a funk right now. They’re resilient and will bounce back tomorrow and keep attacking fastballs…. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll get back on the right side of the funk.”

The Lions will end the weekend against Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West at 6 p.m. today at Hoglund Ballpark.

“Nobody likes to lose but good programs and good players who want to be great will learn from things like this,” Stoll said. “I think they will.”

Jefferson 103 42 — 10 10 0

Lawrence 000 00– 0 2 2

W — Joseph Travis. L — Devin Lauts.

LHS highlights — Andrew Stewart, 1-for-3; Payton Cummins, 1-for-2.