FSHS baseball beats SMS, 9-5

? Free State High’s baseball team scored early and often in a 9-5 victory against Shawnee Mission South, Thursday.

The Firebirds scored six runs in the first three innings, and put the game away with a three-run seventh.

“We had struggled to get big hits recently, and tonight we capitalized,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said.

Zach Bickling and Cooper Karlin paced the Free State offense with three hits apiece. Two of Bickling’s three hits went for extra bases, including a two-run shot in the third.

FSHS (11-7) next will gear up for a game against Lawrence High at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Free State.


Free State 132 000 3 — 9 10 1

SM South 200 012 001 — 5 6 1

W — Parker Tietjen, 2-1. L — Purdue.

2B — Zach Bickling; Cooper Karlin; Joel Spain. HR — Bickling.

FSHS highlights: Bickling, 3-for-4, 2 RBI; Karlin, 3-for-3, RBI, BB; Spain, 2-for-4, 2 RBI.