photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior outfielder Sarai Preston high-fives teammate Avery Lonnberg, left, during the Firebirds' game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

In a marathon contest, the Free State softball team put enough timely hits together in the latter stages to take down Sunflower League opponent Olathe North 17-13 at home on Tuesday.

“Any time you get a win, especially against a Sunflower (League) team, you’ve got to be thankful for that and happy for the kids,” head coach Charley Bowen said. “They battled, they kept coming back, and then finally late in the game, we took over, so it was good for them.”

Junior Sarai Preston paced the offense with a 4-for-4 outing, driving in four runs while nearly hitting for the cycle, falling a triple short of the feat.

“I was happy to see it,” Bowen said. “I told her before the game tonight, ‘Hey, just be calm, be relaxed, and just go out there and let it happen.’ And I think that first hit was just more encouraging to her.”

Preston said the first hit, a home run, improved her confidence for the rest of the night.

“I felt like myself again, and like I was just happy and carefree,” she said.

As a team, the Firebirds combined for 19 hits, with junior Mallary Hice (three), junior AJ Collins (two), sophomore Jace Feurt (three), and senior Kade Hoffman (two) each recording multi-hit games.

“I think we did what we needed to do coming out here,” Bowen said. “I started seeing more line drives, more hard hits instead of popups tonight, and hopefully we can take that into the next couple of games.”

Added Preston: “It’s a whole team thing. I’m just glad that we all helped our team out. We weren’t selfish.”

Feurt started in the circle, throwing 3 1/3 innings while allowing 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits. Collins earned the win, throwing 3 2/3 innings and allowing three runs on three hits while striking out three.

A leadoff single started things off for the Eagles, and a sacrifice bunt allowed the first run to move into scoring position and score on another single. A triple brought the second run in, and a sacrifice fly made it 3-0 after the top of the first.

The Firebirds got two runs back in the bottom of the first, starting with a double by senior Sophia Halton on the first pitch of the inning before Preston’s two-run home run over the right-center-field wall.

“It felt good,” Preston said. “I felt like I was helping my team out, and I was just glad that helped us get back in it.”

In the top of the second, back-to-back errors led to a two-RBI double to make the score 5-2. After a mound visit, an RBI triple resulted in another run for Olathe North, and a sacrifice fly made it 7-2.

For the game, the Firebirds committed four errors, allowing the Eagles to take full advantage and keep innings alive in the early going.

“I think luckily it was more (demoralizing) towards me than the players,” Bowen said. “The players kind of held themselves in there and kept battling, (and) doing what we asked them to do.”

After each team had one batter reach base in its next trip to the plate, the top of the order continued to produce for Free State, starting with a four-pitch walk for Halton. After a fielder’s choice, Preston notched her second hit of the game with a single, and Collins was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

The Eagles were unable to get an out on a fielder’s choice by Feurt, scoring Hice, while Preston scored on a single by freshman Avery Sack, and Collins came home on a fielder’s choice as the Firebirds cut the deficit to two.

It took no time for the Eagles to get the runs back, hitting two straight singles and a double in the top of the fourth to push their lead back to four. After a popup for the first out, a third run scored on another single.

Collins took over in the circle with one out in the top of the fourth, inducing a groundout and flyout to get out of the inning.

“She got some key outs,” Bowen said. “She even was down in the count and came back, so I liked the way she fought tonight, too.”

Another walk from Halton and a single by Hice led to Preston’s third hit of the game, this time a double, scoring the former. Both Hice and Preston scored on a single by Collins before a fielder’s choice resulted in the fourth run of the frame, and senior Rory Scarlett drove in Feurt on a single to tie the game at 10.

Five runs scored in the bottom of the fifth for Free State, highlighted by a sacrifice fly by Preston, a two-run home run by Collins, an RBI single by Hoffman, and a run scored by junior Avery Lonnberg.

Back in the circle, Collins made quick work of the Eagles’ lineup in the top of the sixth, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts and a groundout.

Hice and Preston hit a pair of singles to begin the bottom of the sixth, and both moved up a base on a passed ball. Hice scored on a groundout back to the pitcher, beating the throw home, while Preston came home on a single by Feurt.

The Eagles made a late charge with three runs in the seventh, but a groundout ended the game as the Firebirds held on for the come-from-behind win.

“It’s one of those teams that you’re trying to teach them how to win, too,” Bowen said. “This is something they can take forward into the next couple of games… That’s what we’ve been trying to strive (for) is find a way to win, and they did that tonight.”

Free State is now 2-1 on the season and will make the short drive over to Lawrence High School on Thursday to play the Lions in the City Showdown at 5:30 p.m.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior AJ Collins delivers during the Firebirds’ game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior infielder Mallary Hice runs the bases during the Firebirds’ game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior outfielder Sarai Preston swings at a pitch during the Firebirds’ game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior outfielder Avery Lonnberg waits for the ball during the Firebirds’ game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior outfielder Avery Lonnberg runs the bases during the Firebirds’ game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior AJ Collins makes a catch during the Firebirds’ game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore pitcher Jace Feurt winds up during the Firebirds’ game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior AJ Collins connects with a pitch during the Firebirds’ game against Olathe North on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Lawrence.