photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence first baseman Hudson Hardesty winds up to throw to the pitcher in a 6-3 loss to Deer Creek at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Lawrence.

Lawrence baseball committed five errors and lost 6-3 to Deer Creek in a game at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday.

The Lions gave the Antlers too many opportunities in the game, particularly in the fourth inning when the Antlers scored three runs.

“Whenever you have more errors than you score runs, it’s never going to end well,” Lawrence coach Adam Green said. “We can lament all we want, getting the tying run to the plate in two of the last three innings, and I’m proud of the fight. But we blinked — we flinched. They didn’t have five errors; we did.”

To start the game, the Antlers scored the opening run on an RBI single with one out. The Lions got two outs right after, including a strikeout from pitcher Brice Schwada for the third out.

The Antlers’ lead didn’t stay long, with the Lions getting a run of their own in the bottom of the first. First baseman Hudson Hardesty hit a leadoff single but was caught stealing second base in the following at-bat, which resulted in a strikeout. Third baseman Ethan Curry and right fielder Brady Wollesen hit back-to-back singles, the latter bringing in the Lions’ first run. A groundout in the next at-bat ended the inning.

Lawrence kept Deer Creek from regaining the lead with three outs in the at-bats. The Lions picked off a runner in a pickle, and Schwada threw his second strikeout to close the half-inning. On offense, the Lions recorded a single from center fielder Josh Galbreath and a walk from designated hitter Nate Kress, but Kress was ruled out for offensive interference, which closed the inning.

“It can’t happen,” Green said of the missed opportunity to potentially go ahead with the two runners on base. “It’s about instinct, baseball IQ.”

Both teams retired the side within three at-bats, although Hardesty was able to reach first on an error to start the bottom of the third. He was later caught stealing, which was followed by a strikeout for the third out.

The fourth inning was where the Antlers built their lead for good. With two outs, they hit three singles with a walk and an error before Ethan Curry recorded the final out with a force out at third. The Lions put two runners on base in the bottom of the fourth but weren’t able to bring either home.

“We have a small margin for error, and an inning like that is difficult for us to overcome,” Green said. “For us to win games, we have to be clean. We cannot give people four, five, six outs in an inning.”

A triple in the fifth inning brought in the Antlers’ sixth run, but the Lions closed the inning with three straight outs.

Lawrence started the bottom of the fifth with two outs but found some life with a single from left fielder Tristan Prier and a walk by Curry. The pair advanced a base on a passed ball during the next at-bat, and Wollesen drove them home with a two-RBI single to center field. Shortstop Logan Harris hit a single as Wollesen advanced to third, and second baseman Logan Sheldon walked to load the bases. A strikeout after a pitching change prevented the Lions from clawing back into the game and closed the fifth.

Sheldon relieved Schwada in the sixth inning, and the Antlers finished with one runner on base from a walk. The Lions managed a double at the plate but couldn’t get anyone else on base.

The game was critical for the relievers. As both teams started to gain some ground against the starters, they switched to their relievers, who changed the pace of the pitching and kept the batters off balance.

“I’m proud of what Logan Sheldon did, but they threw their Logan Sheldon against us,” Green said.

Deer Creek hit two singles in the top of the seventh before recording the third out, and Lawrence managed only a single in the bottom of the seventh before the final out of the game.

Lawrence will host Rockhurst on Friday at 8:15 p.m. at Lawrence High School.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Logan Sheldon throws in a 6-3 loss to Deer Creek at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence shortstop Logan Harris creeps toward home plate in a 6-3 loss to Deer Creek at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence left fielder Tristan Prier swings in a 6-3 loss to Deer Creek at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence third baseman Ethan Curry runs to first in a 6-3 loss to Deer Creek at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence right fielder Brady Wollesen rounds toward first base in a 6-3 loss to Deer Creek at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Brice Schwada throws a pitch during a 6-3 loss to Deer Creek at Hoglund Ballpark on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Lawrence.