photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Keira Norris winds up to pitch in a 3-1 win over Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Lawrence.

In a game where Lawrence softball’s offense wasn’t generating hits the way it can, pitcher Keira Norris carried the load, as she threw 15 strikeouts en route to a 3-1 win over Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday.

The Lions (16-8) found offense when they needed it, but the pitching made the difference in the game. Norris allowed only three hits and one walk in seven innings and didn’t give up an earned run.

Norris has been a steady presence on the mound, and the Lions have relied heavily on her pitching while getting just enough offense to win games.

“I always think (Keira Norris’s) pitching is amazing,” senior Lillian Spinelli said. “She always kills it. She keeps our momentum going and keeps us energized and in games.”

Lawrence finished with six hits in the game, with senior third baseman Maddy Crawford accounting for two of them. Lawrence coach Mike Byrn said the team has good approaches to the plate but that at-bats just haven’t worked out the same way they were at the beginning of the season.

“At the beginning of the year, everything we hit was a base hit, and now, even if we hit it hard, it’s not,” Byrn said. “I believe we’re pressing. At the beginning of the year, we were just playing. We have kids who can hit .450, .500, but they’re not because they’re trying to do too much.”

Norris started the game with two strikeouts before a groundout retired the side after three batters. At the plate, the Lions put two on base, with Zoey Barber being hit by a pitch and Crawford hitting a single. A double play ended the inning in the following at-bat.

Norris gave up her only walk of the game to start the second but struck out two more batters in the next three at-bats as the Lions prevented any others from getting on base. Freshman Kate Neilson singled with one out in the bottom of the second, and the Lions loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch and a walk with two outs. Harper Dye made contact with the ball, but it popped up to the pitcher for the third out.

For the first two innings, the Lions struggled to adjust to Shawnee Mission South’s Alexia Lenz’s throwing motion. Her motion led the Lions to be late on their swings. By the third inning, the Lions figured it out and strung some hits together.

Lawrence closed the top of the third with nobody getting on base as Dye threw a groundout to first baseman Lydia Folks and Norris added another two strikeouts. In the bottom of the third, the Lions got on the scoreboard. Crawford singled with one out, followed by singles from Folks and a two-RBI triple from Spinelli. Neilson brought in a third run on a sacrifice fly, and the third out came two at-bats later before the Lions could bring in another run.

The Raiders recorded their first hit in the top of the fourth. A fly ball to right field bounced away from right fielder Lucy Juelsgaard, which allowed a runner to score, but Juelsgaard and the Lions made up for it by throwing the third out at home plate later in the play.

Even with the error, the Lions were able to make the play as a defense to prevent the mistake from compounding. A lot of that comes from the dugout and how the team keeps the energy going. Norris said it is one of the best things about the team and can help them in the postseason.

“We keep the energy up the entire game, and that’s why we don’t give up when our defense errors,” Spinelli said. “We keep the energy up and that reflects onto the defense.”

Lawrence finished the game without another hit, while Shawnee Mission South recorded one other. Junior Reese Dannevik and Juelsgaard both were walked later in the game, and Dannevik reached first in the bottom of the sixth with a dropped third strike. The offense largely went cold, which is something Byrn felt was due to the team pressing while at the plate.

Even without a stellar offensive game, Norris sealed the deal, including striking out two out of three batters faced in the seventh inning.

Lawrence has two games left in its regular season. The Lions host Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday for senior night at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Blue Valley on Friday at 4 p.m. After that, it’s the postseason, starting with a regional tournament.

“We’re 16-8. From where we were to where we are in three years… how could I not be happy for these kids?” Byrn said. “I’m excited for them, and hopefully they relax and play this thing out.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence third baseman Maddy Crawford makes contact with the ball in a 3-1 win over Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence third baseman Maddy Crawford runs home in a 3-1 win over Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence center fielder Julia Norris watches the ball as she starts to run toward third base in a 3-1 win over Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Lawrence.