In a doubleheader against Olathe North on Tuesday, the first inning was a major problem for Lawrence High’s softball team.

The Lions trailed in every inning during the two games, swept with a 10-7 loss in Game One and a 13-1 mercy-rule shortened loss in the nightcap at LHS.

During Game One, Olathe North (9-9, 7-4 in Sunflower League) scored eight runs via the long ball — including a grand slam from Maddie Stipsits in the first inning. The Lions surrendered six runs in the top of the first inning of both games.

“You can’t get down in a hole that big,” Lawrence coach Nicole Riley said.

An error extended Olathe North’s first inning, and the Eagles followed with three straight walks before Stipsits launched a pitch over the fence in right-center field.

Olathe North seniors Alexis Hodapp and Riley Shaw added two-run homers afterward to add to their team’s lead.

But the Lions tried to fight power with power. Freshman catcher Karly Johnson hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning and scored on a RBI single from sophomore Angelina Harjo, cutting Lawrence’s deficit to 6-3.

Trailing by six runs in the seventh inning, the Lions (6-9, 4-5) did their best to rally. The first three hitters reached bases, which included an RBI double from sophomore Kampbell Kilburn. With one out, Johnson hit a two-run single and Harjo followed with a ground-rule double.

That brought the potential tying-run to the plate, but the Lions couldn’t complete the comeback against Shaw, O-North’s pitcher who struck out 11.

“We came back and made it a game at least,” Riley said. “It was nice to see that. But it was too little, too late.”

The second game didn’t have nearly enough offensive highlights for the Lions to keep up with the Eagles.

Olathe North compiled four hits for six runs in the first inning and never looked back. In the third inning, Jayme Dean drilled a two-run home run and the Eagles opened up a double-digit lead with back-to-back doubles from Stipsits and Dean in the fourth inning.

“They were painful to watch,” Riley said of O-North’s big innings. “A little lack of pride and focus hurts.”

LHS sophomore Chloe Taylor had three hits in the second game, scoring the team’s lone run in the first inning when she scored on a double from Kilburn.

Game 1

O-North 620 000 2 — 10 7 1

Lawrence 300 010 3 — 7 10 1

W — Riley Shaw. L — Zoe Brewer.

2B — Lexie Schroeder, Maya Gallagher, ON; Karly Johnson, Kampbell Kilburn, Angelina Harjo, LHS. HR — Maddie Stipsits, Alexis Hodapp, Riley Shaw, ON.

LHS highlights — Johnson, 2-for-3, run, 4 RBI; Kilburn, 2-for-4, run, 2 RBI; Chloe Taylor, 1-for-3, 2 runs; Brewer, 3-for-4, 2 runs, 7 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K; Harjo, 2-for-4, RBI.

Game 2

O-North 602 50 — 13 11 0

Lawrence 100 00 — 1 6 1

W — Jayme Dean. L — Zoe Brewer.

2B — Maddie Stipsits (3), Dean, ON; Kampbell Kilburn, Sarah Cory, LHS. 3B — Maya Gallagher, ON. HR — Dean, ON.

LHS highlights — Chloe Taylor, 3-for-3, run. Kilburn, 1-for-2, RBI, HBP.