photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State junior Megan Kohl (left) congratulates junior Elsa Carrillo (right) after defeating Lawrence High 4-1 on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at Free State High School.

Some late insurance was all Free State softball needed to get by Lawrence High, 4-1, in the City Showdown on Tuesday night at Free State.

Although the Lady Lions tried to make a rally by putting up two hits and one run in the sixth, Free State starting pitcher Elsa Carrillo held on, keeping LHS (5-12) to just three total hits for the game.

Carrillo, a junior, finished with three walks and eight strikeouts, and Free State coach Charley Bowen said she settled right in on the mound.

“We were wondering how far we were going to go with her tonight,” Bowen said. “But three, four and five innings in, we decided to keep her in, and she did a heck of a job.”

It looked like Carrillo might be in trouble early. She gave up a leadoff walk to LHS senior Emme Dye and a base hit to senior Hailey Ramirez in the top of the first. With one out and both seniors threatening to score, the Lady Firebirds (4-11) bailed out Carrillo with a double play.

In the bottom of the first, Free State grabbed a one-run lead when junior Aly Richardson lined out to second for a sacrifice RBI. Free State kept LHS silent through the second and then pushed its own lead to 2-0 on an RBI single by junior Grace Rothwell in the bottom of the third.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High coach Mike Byrn meets with his team on the mound during a 4-1 loss to Free State on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at Free State High School.

Free State senior Leah Mueller homered off LHS freshman Sophie Rowley to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Her bomb to left field made it 3-0 Firebirds headed into the sixth inning — which was when the Lady Lions made their stand.

Dye delivered a leadoff single in the top of the sixth, followed up two outs later with an RBI single from Lydia Folks to bring Dye home for the Lady Lions’ first run of the ballgame.

But Carrillo stopped the action there, striking out LHS sophomore Maddy Crawford to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Free State senior Alena Velilla (1-for-4) tripled, bringing home pinch runner Chloe Clossen from second to pad the Lady Firebirds’ lead to three runs. Bowen said it was an opportunity for Velilla to shine.

“She was struggling and I told her, ‘hey there’s going to be an opportunity in the game where we need you,'” Bowen said. “We pinch-ran Chloe and she got the base hit. That was a big insurance run going into the seventh inning.”

In the top of the seventh, FSHS finished the Lady Lions off: Carrillo struck out LHS sophomore Reese Dannevik, and the Lady Firebirds’ defense took care of the rest.

“They took advantage of the mistakes we made,” LHS coach Mike Byrn said after the game. “If we’re clean, maybe we’re still playing.”

He also said he was still proud of the job his freshman pitcher did: “I thought Sophie was fantastic and deserved a better outcome.”

Up next, Free State hosts Olathe North and LHS hosts Shawnee Mission East. Both games are on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The Class 6A regional playoff is slated for May 15-18, with sites to be determined by KSHSAA.

BOX SCORE:

Lawrence: 000 001 0 – 1 3 3

Free State: 101 011 X – 4 5 1

W – Carrillo; L – Rowley.

Highlights for LHS: Dye 1-for-1, R; Ramirez 1-for-2; L. Folks 1-for-3, RBI; Rowley 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.

Highlights for Free State: Velilla 1-for-4, R, RBI; Mueller 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI; Rothwell 1-for-2; Price 1-for-2; Smith 1-for-2; Carrillo 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State junior Elsa Carrillo throws a pitch during a 4-1 win over Lawrence High on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at Free State High School.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High freshman Sophie Rowley looks to the dugout during a 4-1 loss to Free State on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at Free State High School.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Reese Dannevik heads for first after making contact during a 4-1 loss to Free State on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at Free State High School.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State junior Bailey Smith smiles after defeating Lawrence High 4-1 on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at Free State High School.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State and Lawrence High greet after Tuesday’s game on May 2, 2023, at Free State High School.