photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence second baseman Logan Sheldon touches home plate in a 4-3 win over Brandon Valley on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Lawrence.

Lawrence baseball moved to 3-1 on the season with a 4-3 win over Brandon Valley in Lawrence on Saturday, completing the team’s out-of-state schedule.

“I’m pleased with where we’re at,” coach Adam Green said. “Coming out of this weekend 3-1, I’m happy about that. Now, the bullets start flying a little bit.”

Pitcher Brice Schwada started on the mound and finished with four hits allowed across five innings with five strikeouts. He allowed one walk in the first inning, but a groundout in the first at-bat and a double play after the walk kept the Lynx off the scoreboard.

“Brice wasn’t the sharpest, but he kept us in the game,” Green said. “I’m pleased with that.”

Lawrence took the lead at the plate and held it for the entire game. Third baseman Ethan Curry doubled as the leadoff hitter to open the game. After a groundout, the Lions got three free bases through two walks and right fielder Josh Galbreath getting hit by a pitch. Jaxon Becker got the second walk, which brought Curry home for the first score. A strikeout and groundout in the next two at-bats closed the inning with the Lions up a run.

Each team hit a single but scored no runs in the second inning. Schwada struck out two more batters in the top of the third inning, as the Lynx managed only a single. Becker reached first on a dropped third strike in the bottom of the third but was the only Lion to get on base. The Lions turned their second double play in the top of the fourth, with first baseman Hudson Hardesty making both plays at first.

“We did a nice job of leaving what happens (at the plate) in the dugout,” Green said. “When your pitcher isn’t throwing strikes consistently, the game kind of drags, and it’s hard to play defense.”

Green said the team’s accountability and work ethic have helped them find ways to succeed on the field when other things haven’t gone their way. The defense’s performance on Saturday was an example of that.

The scoring drought ended at the bottom of the fourth, with the Lions scoring three runs. Nate Kress started the inning with a walk, and second baseman Logan Sheldon reached first on a fielder’s choice in the next at-bat. After a walk by Will Grimes, Sheldon stole third and then scored on a passed ball. Curry singled to bring Grimes home, and Curry later scored the third run on Hardesty’s line drive at the end of the inning.

Brandon Valley got its first runs in the fifth inning, which started with an error and a strikeout. Schwada walked the third batter, and a passed ball brought the two runners into scoring position with only one out. A groundout brought in the first run, and a single in the next at-bat brought in the second. Another groundout to shortstop Brandt Edmonds ended the Lynx’s scoring run.

Two Lions struck out in the bottom of the fifth as the team failed to get a hit. The Lions had a pitching change at the top of the sixth, with JJ Dos Santos stepping up to the mound. The Lynx got their first two runners on base before Dos Santos threw a strikeout for the first out. He struck out another batter after a walk, and Hardesty caught the third out immediately afterward.

Curry singled in the bottom of the sixth and was the only Lion to get on base. He finished with three hits and an RBI in four at-bats. The rest of the team combined for two hits, one for Hardesty and Sheldon.

Dos Santos walked the first batter in the top of the seventh, but a flyout and a groundout put the Lions an out away from a win. Brayden Knutson hit a double for the Lynx, which brought in the team’s third run, but a groundout to Curry on third ended the game.

The Lions will host Olathe North on Tuesday for their first Sunflower League game of the year.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Brice Schwada throws in a 4-3 win over Brandon Valley on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence third baseman Ethan Curry swings at the ball in a 4-3 win over Brandon Valley on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Lawrence.