After back-to-back losses, the Lawrence High softball team probably would have settled for any win to get things moving in the right direction.

Instead, the Lions put on a decisive showing, blanking Shawnee Mission West and winning 10-0 behind a solid outing from pitcher Zoe Brewer and an abundance of offense from all over the lineup.

?”It feels a lot better walking off the field today than it has the last couple,” said LHS coach Nicole Riley. “We talked a lot yesterday after the game about what we need to come out and do today, and we came out and did it.”

Early on, that started with the pitching.

Brewer flustered the Shawnee Mission West bats, mixing speed and location of her pitches to induce a slew of swings and misses.

Riley noted that Brewer’s change-up was especially effective early. Brewer picked her spots well with it, tallying three strikeouts on the first five Shawnee Mission West batters.

“Honestly, I don’t think today was my best performance, but I got the job done anyway,” Brewer said with a smile. “Yeah, I think I did all right.”

The other way, that control on the mound was lacked.

LHS’ Sammy Williams tripped to lead off the bottom of the second and then scored on a wild pitch. Abby Monroe was then walked, stole second and again ended up scoring on a wild pitch.

The Lions put three runners on base in the second inning, with two of them drawing walks to get on. Then they broke the game open in the third.

After a leadoff double and stolen base by Angelina Harjo, Williams produced her second hit — a single — to make the score 3-0.

After a walk to Monroe and a wild pitch that allowed both runners to advance, Morgan Husman smashed a shot right back up the middle to clear the bases.

Kate Williams nearly made the score 6-0, but a ball smoked down the left-field line was deemed foul. The Lions had to settle for five runs.

“It’s awesome,” Brewer said. “It definitely feels good when everyone’s getting the bat on the ball. It’s a confidence booster.”

The other way, after striking out four through 3 1/3 no-hit innings, Brewer allowed a single, but her defense was there to pick her up.

Shawnee Mission West’s Izzy Cunningham attempted to steal second, but Husman was ready, popping up and completing a perfect throw to Chandler Guffey to get the out.

Husman also managed to pick off the first Shawnee Mission base runner, which came in the third inning. She caught a pitch from Brewer and then threw down the line to first to record the final out of the frame.

“Oh she’s awesome. She’s always on top of it. Always,” Brewer said of Husman. “I know I can always count on her if there’s a runner who’s challenging her.”

Brewer ultimately surrendered two hits and no runs over five innings before the mercy rule kicked in. She struck out five to only two walks in the bounce-back performance, which snapped the two-game skid.

Still, with a four-game weekend ahead, Riley knows there’s plenty left to work on.

“We’re very young,” said Riley. “(But) they’ve been coachable and they’re working hard. That’s what matters.” ?

Shawnee Mission West 000 00 — 0 2 2

Lawrence High 023 23 — 10 10 0

W — Zoe Brewer (3-2). L — Izzy Cunningham.

2B — Haley Crane, SMW; Angelina Harjo, Morgan Husman (2), Sydney Delfelder, Kampbell Kilburn, LHS. 3B — Sammy Williams, LHS.

LHS highlights — Brewer 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K; Delfelder 1 for 3, walk, 2 RBI, run; Brewer (batting) 2 for 4; Kilburn 1 for 4, game-ending double, 2 RBI; Harjo 2-3, stolen base, run; Sammy Williams 2 for 3, 2 runs, RBI; Monroe 0 for 1, 2 BB, 2 runs; Husman 2 for 3, 2 RBI, run; Kate Williams 1-2, 2 runs.