The Free State baseball team needed just two runs on Thursday night, relying on its pitching and defense to take down Sunflower League rival Mill Valley 2-0.

“It was a very, very good high school baseball game. We had to make some excellent plays defensively to win the ballgame,” head coach Mike Hill said. “That’s what you got to have in low-scoring, tight, well-pitched ball games.”

Time and time again throughout the home matchup, Free State was able to escape jams thanks to its defense, whether it be with a double play or a sliding catch.

“You’ve got to be able to have a play that will ignite you defensively and maybe take a little something away from them on offense,” Hill said.

The Firebirds got off to a strong start behind pitcher Zane Shaw, getting the first two outs of the game from groundouts before Shaw ended the inning with a strikeout. In the bottom of the first, the Firebirds got two runners on with walks, but both runners were stranded with an inning-ending groundout.

The defense continued to have Shaw’s back in the bottom of the second after a leadoff single by Mill Valley, as shortstop Charlie Peters started a double play for the first two outs of the inning, and was on the assisting end of a groundout to retire the side.

“When I get two strikes, I don’t feel like I have to throw that perfect pitch because there I got my defense,” Shaw said. “I can just hit my spot and I know my defense can make the play.”

Peters reached base in the bottom of the second thanks to an error by the Jagars, but the Firebirds weren’t able to score.

Mill Valley threatened in the third by loading the bases with two outs, but a popout ended the inning. Free State quickly loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with a single, walk, and hit-by-pitch before Ryker Mahnke scored the first run of the game. After a double play, Andrew Zimmerschied drove in Ben Graves for the second run of the inning.

“Zim got a big hit for us, and again, you’ve got to have those momentum changers and two-out base hits,” Hill said. “Those things are so important in games like this.”

Free State got its first out at home, and Shaw threw two strikeouts to quickly retire the side in the top of the fourth. Owen Lester reached first with a hit-by-pitch, but another double play and a strikeout quickly ended the fourth inning.

Shaw recorded another strikeout in the top of the fifth and induced a groundout and a popout to end the inning. The Firebirds got two runners on in their next opportunity to bat before a strikeout ultimately ended the inning.

Mill Valley posed a significant threat in the sixth inning with a one-out single. Following a fielder’s choice, a double put runners at second and third with two outs. One batter later, a walk loaded the bases.

Shaw’s outing concluded following the walk. In 5 2/3 innings, Shaw struck out five batters while walking four and allowing two hits.

“He had multiple pitches going tonight. That’s the whole key to anything,” Hill said. “You’re not going to beat a good team with the fastball, and he had to dig deep a couple times and I thought he competed well.”

Added Shaw: “My slider has been off the past couple of games. I really found it today and that helped a lot.”

Graves was the replacement on the mound, needing just one pitch to end the inning and keep the Jaguars off the scoreboard with a groundout, which Hill called it a “big time effort.”

Free State quickly went down in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Graves closed out the game in the top of the seventh with a pair of strikeouts and a lineout.

The Firebirds are now 11-1 and will conclude their week with one more game on Saturday, traveling to Wichita to play Wichita Heights at Equity Bank Park.