photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore pitcher AJ Collins delivers a pitch during the game against Olathe East Friday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

The Free State softball team led 2-1 through three innings in its senior-night game on Thursday night before giving up six runs in the fourth inning, ultimately falling 7-2 to Olathe East.

After the loss, head coach Charley Bowen credited his seniors for their contributions to the program over the past four seasons, and said it was awesome to celebrate their commitment and dedication.

“Sometimes it’s more than the game and this is the time where that’s kind of irrelevant — this is more than a game,” Bowen said.

He said he was still proud of his group for the way they competed all game.

“They fight a lot, they haven’t given up,” he said. “We played tough, a lot of innings, and then we just have that one bump in an inning, and it’s (cost) us most of the time.”

Each team scored one run in the first inning, as the Hawks relied on their ability to get on base and move runners, scoring with an RBI single, while the Firebirds benefited from a two-out home run off the bat of sophomore Sarai Preston to tie the game in the bottom of the first.

Free State starter AJ Collins worked around a leadoff single and a two-out walk, finishing the bottom of the second with a lineout to keep the score knotted at one apiece.

Collins began the bottom of the second with a double, before a dropped third strike moved Mallary Hice, running in place of Collins, to third. The Firebirds took a 2-1 lead one batter later after senior Chloe Clossen laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Hice, before the inning ended with a groundout.

“The kid’s been here for four years, and to have an opportunity to get in there and we asked her to put down a bunt to score a run and she just did it perfectly,” Bowen said of Clossen. “It goes back to her not giving up and working hard in what we preach and practice.”

The top of the third was smooth sailing for both teams defensively, as Collins retired the side in order with three groundouts, while Olathe East quieted the Free State lineup with two groundouts and a strikeout to end the frame.

The Hawks scored the tying and go-ahead runs by way of walks before a grand slam opened up the game in the top of the fourth.

Bowen still applauded Collins for her effort in the circle, as she held the Hawks scoreless the rest of the way.

“I thought she pitched a great game,” Bowen said. “I thought she showed a lot of maturity being a sophomore, coming in and shutting them out the last couple of innings. We can build on that, that’s what we’re trying to do here.”

After a scoreless bottom of the first, Free State prevented the deficit from increasing in the top of the fifth, allowing just a single. The Firebirds then got one runner on in the bottom of the fifth, but the inning ended after Riley Schierling was called out at third trying to advance from first base following a wild pitch.

The Firebirds held the Hawks scoreless once again in the top of the sixth, and showed a sign of life on offense in the home half of the inning with a single by Sophia Halton and a walk from Kendall Feurt. However, both runners were stranded after a strikeout ended the frame.

Free State retired the side in the seventh and headed to the plate needing five runs to tie. After a pair of strikeouts began the inning, senior Zoe Milburn reached base after being hit by a pitch, and both AJ Maginnis and Halton walked to load the bases. The rally was cut short there, as a strikeout ended the game.

With the loss, the Firebirds fell to 9-15 on the year and will close out the regular season on Tuesday night, visiting Shawnee Mission Northwest.

“Try to get a win, try to play hard, try to fix some of the mistakes we had,” Bowen said of the message before the regular season finale. “And then after that, everybody starts fresh. If we can go down there and eliminate that one inning, I think we have a great shot of making some noise.”

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Gia Miele walks with her parents Sal Miele and Kim Miele during the senior night ceremony following the game against Olathe East Friday, May 8, 2025.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State seniors Kendall Feurt, Zoe Milburn, Chloe Clossen, Gia Miele, AJ Maginnis, and Delaney Bruhns pose for a photo following the game against Olathe East Friday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior outfielder Delaney Bruhns swings at a pitch during the game against Olathe East Friday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore AJ Collins celebrates on second base during the game against Olathe East Friday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State outfielder Sarai Preston dives into her teammates’ arms at home plate during the game against Olathe East on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior outfielder AJ Maginnis throws the ball during the game against Olathe East Friday, May 8, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior third baseman Kendall Feurt embraces head coach Charley Bowen following the game against Olathe East Friday, May 8, 2025.