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

Free State head coach Charley Bowen talks with the home plate umpire during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

Visiting Olathe South needed just two batters to surge ahead in Tuesday night’s Sunflower League matchup and never relinquished its lead to take down Free State softball, 10-3.

“We didn’t come to play,” Free State head coach Charley Bowen said. “We didn’t have the momentum… and that comes back to me. We weren’t prepared to play today and I’ll take responsibility for that.”

Bowen said he was surprised by the lack of energy as the team came into the contest riding a five-game winning streak after dropping its season-opening contest on March 31.

“It brought us back down to reality that the Sunflower League’s not easy, and you’ve got to be ready to play every night,” Bowen said.

The Firebirds (5-2) recorded nine hits as a team, with three players recording multiple hits. Junior Mallary Hice finished 3-for-4 with an RBI; senior Sophia Halton went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk; and sophomore Maya Friedman finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.

“I liked to see Sophia finally get on track and Mal (Hice),” Bowen said. “It was just a little too late. We need to come out at the start of the game and put a couple (of) runs up and not wait until we’re down.”

Junior AJ Collins got the start in the circle, throwing a complete game while allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits, walking seven batters and striking out four.

The Falcons wasted no time making their mark, scoring two batters into the game. A walk led to a sacrifice bunt, and a throwing error to an unoccupied third base allowed the runner to cross home.

Free State put together its own threat in the bottom of the first after a single by Hice, as junior Sarai Preston was hit by a pitch. The Firebirds failed to get a run across, however, as a double play ended the inning.

With two outs in the top of the second, Collins allowed back-to-back walks before freshman Avery Sack made a diving catch in right field to keep the deficit at one.

“We’ve been playing (Sack) at third, (but) we know she can play outfield,” Bowen said. “For that kid, being a freshman and putting her (at) two different positions, I think she’s doing a great job.”

Offensively, the Firebirds’ bats went down in order in the second with three consecutive flyouts. The Falcons began the top of the third with a leadoff triple down the right field line and brought a run home on a groundout. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and the lead grew as another run came to the plate on a wild pitch. After another walk, a fielder’s choice scored the third run of the frame as Olathe South held a 4-0 advantage.

Two of the first three hitters reached base for Free State in the home half of the third after an error and a walk by Halton. After a flyout, Preston reached base for the second time with a walk before a lineout retired the side.

The lead continued to grow for the Falcons in the fourth, as they turned a leadoff single into a run on a double by Olivia Larsen. She scored the second run of the inning on a single by Hayli Houfek before Collins ended the inning with her third strikeout and a popout.

Friedman recorded the Firebirds’ second hit of the game with a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth, but a 6-4-3 double play put an end to the frame.

In the first four innings, the Firebirds had six batters reach base, with runners getting on in three of the four innings, but were unable to break through at any point.

“It just comes down to (mentality),” Bowen said. “(It’s about) knowing what you need to do. Early in the game, we tried to bunt, (but) we didn’t get the bunt down. It’s just little things like that.”

Collins retired all three hitters she faced in the fifth, while a two-out rally allowed Free State to break the shutout. Halton reached base with a double and scored on a single by Hice, making the deficit 6-1.

The leadoff batter reached base in the sixth for Olathe South. Then Halton snagged a hard ground ball and stepped on second before firing to first for the double play. Another single extended the inning, but Collins struck out a batter for the third out.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sack laced a double down the left field line. Friedman swapped places with the freshman right fielder, hitting a double of her own to make the score 6-2.

The inning eventually ended after a long flyout and a popout with the Falcons hanging on to the four-run lead. That lead only grew in the seventh, as the Falcons scored four runs on three hits with five batters reaching base in the inning.

Halton hit her second double of the game with one out in the final inning, followed by Hice’s third hit to put runners on the corners. The second out of the inning came on a back-pick to third base, in which Halton was called out. Preston walked for the second time. Hice scored the Firebirds’ third run of the contest on a single by Collins before the game ended on a long flyout to left field.

Free State will gear up for two games on Thursday at the Olathe District Activity Center against Maranatha Christian Academy and Basehor-Linwood, with games scheduled for 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.

“One game at a time,” Bowen said. “Start with the first game on Thursday and get a win and just build from there.”

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

Free State pitcher AJ Collins delivers a pitch during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State assistant coach Bill Roszak speaks to the team following the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State infielder Mallary Hice attempts to tag a runner out during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State infielder Maya Friedman drives a ball to right field during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State pitcher AJ Collins swings at a pitch during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State infielder Maya Friedman throws the ball to first base during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State infielder Sophia Halton smiles while walking back to the mound during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State infielder Kade Hoffman catches a ball at first during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State infielder Maya Friedman prepares for the pitch during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State infielder Sophia Halton stands ready at second base following a double during the game against Olathe South on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Lawrence.