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

Free State junior outfielder Ryker Mahnke hits the ball during Free State’s game against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

Free State baseball (18-4) dropped an important Sunflower League game at a costly time, losing to Olathe Northwest 5-0 on Thursday at Free State.

The Firebirds now hold a league record of 9-2, half a game back of Olathe West, which Free State defeated on April 30.

“We were just not good,” head coach Mike Hill said. “We left a lot to be desired in terms of how we went about our business and how we played today.”

Olathe Northwest pitcher Owen Gray limited the Firebirds’ offense all evening, tossing 6 2/3 shutout innings while allowing seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts.

“He did a really nice job,” Hill said. “(He) got the ground balls in the second and third… Those were kind of momentum killers, and then we just didn’t respond from that.”

Despite collecting seven hits, the Firebirds struggled throughout the contest with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 runners on base.

Hill said the lack of adjustments made at the plate allowed Gray to find his way out of jams inning after inning.

“I think it goes back to the approach and understanding what the pitcher is trying to do and then be able to adjust to that,” Hill said. “And you know, we didn’t do that today.”

The Ravens put one runner on base in the top of the first with a single before Nathan Young retired the side. The first two hitters for Free State reached base as Ryker Mahnke was hit by a pitch and Ben Graves worked a walk. The bases were loaded with two outs after senior Zane Shaw was hit by a pitch, but the inning ended on a groundout by junior Ferris Dinkel.

Olathe Northwest struck first in the top of the second, leading off the inning with a double before a walk put two runners on base. The first two runs scored on a single by Brody Comfort before he scored the third run himself on an error.

“Nathan threw with a lot of guts,” Hill said. “He wasn’t as sharp as he has been, and he was due for one of those. And that’s OK, and he still gritted through it and kept us in the ballgame.”

Two more runners reached base in the bottom of the second for the Firebirds, beginning with a single by Young before senior Eli Berns walked. The inning ended shortly thereafter as Mahnke rolled into a double play.

One batter reached base for the Ravens in the third inning, but Young ended the inning with a popup. Junior Finn Moore hit a one-out single in the home half of the inning before a double play kept the score at 3-0.

Neither team had any offensive success in the fourth, and Olathe Northwest extended its lead in the fifth inning. An error in the outfield turned into a run after a single by Luke Stinnett to make the score 4-0.

Mahnke reached base for the second time with a single, but back-to-back popups ended the fifth inning.

Graves took the mound in relief in the sixth, throwing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Junior Owen Lester began the bottom of the sixth with a single and advanced to third on a one-out double by Dinkel, but Gray continued to induce contact and escaped the jam scoreless after a lineout.

After taking the mound in the seventh, Moore issued a leadoff walk, and the runner advanced to third on a stolen base and wild pitch before getting thrown out at home by Lester on a fielder’s choice. A run still scored, however, after a single by Parker Christiansen scored Tison Wren to make the score 5-0.

The Firebirds loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but failed to come through as Olathe Northwest reliever Landen Hays finished the game with a strikeout.

Next on the schedule for Free State is a date with Wichita Heights on Saturday at 1 p.m., before a matchup with Lawrence in the City Showdown on Monday at Hoglund Ballpark.

“I think tomorrow we’ve got to have a good workout and a positive attitude,” Hill said. “We’re 18-4, so it’s not like we’re 4-18. The kids have a lot to feel good about. That certainly hurt us in terms of the league… It’s disappointing to come home and lose, but that’s baseball.”

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

Free State junior Finn Moore catches the ball and throws to first base to get an Olathe Northwest player out on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Nathan Young pitches the ball against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior pitcher Nathan Young runs to first base during Free State’s game against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore catcher Carter Laubach throws the ball to first base during Free State’s game against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Finn Moore catches a pop fly during Free State’s game against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior outfielder Ferris Dinkel sprints to first base during Free State’s game against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior pitcher Nathan Young hits a single against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Nathan Young winds up to pitch against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Owen Lester runs to third base in the first inning against Olathe Northwest on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Lawrence.