Zoe Brewer tosses a pitch during a Lions game against Shawnee Mission East, Thursday, May 4, at LHS.

The Lawrence High softball team hadn’t been in the win column much over the last month of the season.

Which is why, LHS coach Nicole Riley was almost in disbelief when she found herself frustrated following a 6-2 victory over Shawnee Mission East at home Thursday. Still, she believed her team could perform better than what was displayed on the field.

The Lions answered their coach’s plea with a 15-0 thrashing over Shawnee Mission West, in just four innings due to the mercy rule, to complete the double-header sweep. Prior to Thursday’s twin bill, they had notched a total of two victories in eight tries dating back to mid-April.

“Game One we weren’t focused, so we talked between games about bringing more energy,” Riley said. “I hate to not feel great about a win, because I love to win, it’s my favorite thing. But it wasn’t the way we should have won the game.”

Annie Grammar gives a thumbs up to her team’s bench after driving in two runs with a triple in the first inning of a Lions game against Shawnee Mission East, Thursday, May 4, at LHS.

Junior Zoe Brewer opened the first game with a spotless frame and then contributed to a four-run outburst in the home half of the first inning. Following a double by Brewer and a single via sophomore Kampbell Kilburn, senior Annie Grammer drove both runners home with a one-out triple.

Freshman Karly Johnson followed suit with an RBI single. She scored the fourth run on a wild pitch, to take a commanding early cushion.

But the offense then faltered when it mattered most. Even though all nine batters recorded a hit, the Lions (8-9, 6-5 in Sunflower League) strung just two more runs on the afternoon. Most notably in the third, they came up empty with the bases loaded and one out.

“That was something we talked about yesterday at practice, we need to be more aggressive at the plate,” Riley said. “We talked about our approach and worked on our hitting. So I am proud of them.”

Lawrence High School softball team first baseman Abbey Monroe grabs a fly ball for an out in a Lions game against Shawnee Mission East, Thursday, May 4, at LHS.

Brewer’s dominance kept the game from ever being in doubt, as the Lancers had no answer for her. She allowed just two runs (one earned) off two hits. She struck out six batters and walked one across seven innings of work.

On the offensive end, Grammer finished a home run shy of the cycle and drove in three runs. Junior Morgan Husman, Johnson, Kilburn all joined Grammer in multi-hit efforts.

However, Riley pushed her team to do even better in the nightcap against a different opponent.

“She knew that we were better than that and we needed to find our focus,” Brewer said. “In the second game, I definitely think we found it.”

Against the Vikings, LHS again started off with a four-spot in the opening frame on three hits. The Lions did the very same thing in the third, before ending the game with a decisive fourth inning, as they plated six runs.

Chloe Taylor (2-for-3), Grammer (2-for-2), Kilburn (2-for-2), and Cory (2-for-3) all recorded multi-hit showings, in addition to driving in a combined six runs on the evening.

Meanwhile, Brewer stayed locked in on the mound. She tossed four shutout frames, allowing just one hit. She struck out four of the 13 batters she faced and threw a total of 35 pitches, 28 of which were strikes.

“My fastball was working today. Just pounding it hard, they couldn’t catch up,” Brewer said.

Lawrence will travel to Free State at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

SM East 002 000 0 – 2 2 3

Lawrence 410 100 x – 614 1

W – Zoe Brewer.

2B – Christina Brogden, SME; Zoe Brewer, Annie Grammer, Morgan Husman (2x), LHS. 3B – Grammer, LHS.

LHS highlights – Grammer, 3-for-4, 3 RBIs; Karly Johnson, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs; Kampbell Kilburn, 2-for-4, Morgan Husman, 2-for-3, Brewer, 7 IP, 2R 2H, 1BB, 6K.

SM West 000 0 – 0 1 2

Lawrence 414 6 – 15 12 0

W – Zoe Brewer.

3B – Kampbell Kilburn, Sarah Cory, LHS.

LHS highlights – Annie Grammer, 2-for-2, 2 RBIs; Kilburn, 2-for-2, 3 runs; Cory, 2-for-3, 3 RBIs, Chloe Taylor, 2-for-3, RBI; Brewer, 4 IP, 1H 4K.