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

Free State senior Eli Berns claps in celebration after the Gardner Edgerton pitcher walked him on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

Situational hitting has been the biggest point of emphasis for Free State baseball all season, and on Wednesday, timely hits wound up making the difference.

The Firebirds (21-4) took advantage of an early opportunity in the first inning on a two-RBI single and never looked back, taking down Gardner Edgerton 7-1.

“We had good at-bats up and down the lineup,” head coach Mike Hill said, “which is obviously something we’ve been harping on, and I thought the kids did a nice job today.”

After tossing five innings in Thursday’s loss to Olathe Northwest, Nathan Young bounced back with 6 1/3 innings, allowing the one run on six hits while striking out nine hitters.

“He’s a command pitcher, and he has to be able to keep people off balance,” Hill said. “He pitches, hits locations, moves the ball up and down, in and out, and he was really good from about the fourth (inning) on.”

A single by Eli Berns and a walk by Ben Graves in the bottom of the first sparked the early offense for Free State as both came around on a single by Owen Lester.

“It felt pretty good,” Lester said. “(It) wasn’t great contact, but I am happy to score in two runs and get an early lead.”

A change to the lineup came before the game as Berns moved into the No. 2 spot from the No. 9 hole, bumping Graves, Lester and Finn Moore to the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 spots, respectively.

Berns delivered in his new role, hitting 2-for-3 in the game with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.

“I found out 30 minutes before the game and just stuck to my approach,” he said. “Really just stay aggressive and compete up there.”

Hill said that Berns was able to get his opportunities through consistent showings in practice and never giving up even when things weren’t necessarily going his way.

“He didn’t put his head down; he just kept grinding at practice,” Hill said. “I thought he did a terrific job today… and if he can do that in that part of the lineup and we get some guys doing things they’re capable of doing, we can certainly be formidable offensively.”

The Firebirds’ offense picked right back up in the bottom of the second as Ferris Dinkel singled in the first at-bat. He advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring on a single by Carter Laubach.

A leadoff single in the top of the third turned into three bases on a failed pickoff attempt that allowed Baylor Vesey to advance to third before scoring on a single by Chase Munden. Young worked his way out of the rest of the inning, keeping the score at 3-1.

Berns began the bottom of the third with a walk before Graves just missed a home run as he was retired on a flyout hit to the warning track. Lester laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Berns to second before the inning ended on a groundout.

Young allowed a leadoff double in the top of the fourth but settled back in and retired the next three batters he faced, ending the inning with a flyout.

Young said that following the double, he was able to locate his offspeed pitches more consistently, which ultimately helped keep the Gardner Edgerton lineup guessing the rest of the evening.

“I just kind of relaxed a little more,” Young said. “Once I got the changeup over, then it was the curveball coming in, and just being able to spot it better helped.”

Dinkel walked with one out and moved to second as Laubach was hit by a pitch. The lead stretched to three runs as Ryker Mahnke drove in Dinkel, but the inning ended in the same sequence as Donnie Krehbiel was thrown out at third.

Gardner Edgerton’s leadoff hitter reached base for the third straight inning as Young walked Vesey before striking out the next three hitters.

“I needed that,” Young said. “I was struggling the first three (innings), so that really helped kind of change the momentum for me on the mound.”

Leading off for the second time in as many innings, Berns began the bottom of the fifth with a single before Graves and Lester both followed suit with the same result as the latter single brought in Berns.

“It’s important,” Hill said of the three consecutive hits to begin the inning. “(In) a game like that, that inning can kind of set the tone and make the sixth and seventh just a little bit easier.”

The bases were loaded after Moore was hit by a pitch, leading to a fielder’s choice in which everyone was safe. One more run scored as Young walked before back-to-back flyouts ended the inning.

Young retired the side in order on just 10 pitches in the top of the sixth inning. At the plate, Graves hit a one-out single before getting caught stealing second. Lester hit a double in the right-center gap to put a runner back on base before being stranded after a strikeout.

A strikeout by Young began the top of the seventh before an infield single by the Trailblazers ended his outing. Graves took over on the mound in relief, facing just two batters and striking out both to end the game.

Free State will close out the regular season on Thursday, hosting Park Hill South out of Missouri, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m. The Firebirds and the Panthers met last season, with the Firebirds winning that game 11-1.

“They were athletic,” Hill said. “They were here early in the year, and I saw them and kind of had the same impression, so we’ll try to do a little homework tonight and tomorrow morning … The key is going into the playoffs feeling good about the way you play, and that’s the goal tomorrow.”

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

Senior Eli Berns celebrates toward his teammates after scoring for Free State against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Senior Nathan Young sprints to first base during Free State’s game against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Senior Ben Graves connects with the ball during Free State’s matchup against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Junior outfielder Ryker Mahnke catches a fly ball during Free State’s game against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Junior outfielder Ferris Dinkel runs home during Free State’s game against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior outfielder Ferris Dinkel slides to steal second base against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State senior Nathan Young winds up a pitch to the Gardner Edgerton batter on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Senior Nathan Young pitches to start Free State’s game against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Senior Zane Shaw hits the ball during Free State’s matchup against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Owen Lester runs through third base to score for the Firebirds against Gardner Edgerton on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Lawrence.