photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Brady Wollesen fist bumps Lawrence manager Adam Green after reaching third base in Lawrence's 6-1 loss to Sioux Falls-Jefferson on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Lawrence.

Lawrence baseball returned to the diamond with a 6-1 season-opening loss to Sioux Falls-Jefferson at home on Thursday.

Lawrence coach Adam Green said the Lions struggled against pitcher Brody Jacobson, saying the Lions took too many pitches for strikes. Overall, it was a slow offensive night for the Lions with five hits and two walks.

“We allowed him to pitch with a fastball way too much,” Green said. “We were behind in counts, and we have to become more aggressive with how we approach the at-bat.”

The Lions started their season with Hudson Hardesty, who finished last year as the team’s top pitcher, on the mound. Hardesty had a strong start to the year, allowing three hits and a walk against six strikeouts in five innings pitched. Green said that Hardesty is “going to cash some checks this year, because he’s made a lot of deposits.”

“I’m so excited for Hudson Hardesty,” Green said. “I don’t know that we have anyone on our team that has dedicated themselves to the game of baseball like Hudson Hardesty. It’s a year-round thing for him.”

Hardesty started the game with two strikeouts before he got the third out on a groundout at first. Jaxon Becker reached first base after being hit by a pitch, and he proceeded to steal second and advance to third base on a passed ball. Becker ran home on a wild pitch to get Lawrence the first run of the game.

Right fielder Brady Wollesen reached on an error, but a strikeout in the next at-bat ended the first inning with Wollesen stranded.

The Cavaliers got their first hit of the game in the first at-bat of the second inning, but the Lions retired the next three batters. The Lions got a hit with first baseman Saylor Jackson’s single, but the Lions left him on second base.

Jefferson tied it up in the top of the third inning after the Cavaliers put back-to-back hits together with two outs, the latter being an RBI double. A groundout to shortstop Brandt Edmonds brought the third out of the half inning.

Lawrence didn’t get anyone on base in the bottom of the third, and Hardesty struck out two batters as Lawrence retired the side in the top of the fourth. Left fielder Nate Kress singled to center field in the bottom of the fourth, but a double play in the next at-bat kept the Lions from taking back the lead.

Hardesty pitched for the final time in the fifth inning. After starting with a walk, the Lions got the next three outs, with the final one being a strikeout for Hardesty. Edmonds singled in the bottom of the fifth, but a strikeout in the next at-bat ended the inning.

Lawrence had difficulty turning a hit into momentum for other hitters. The Cavaliers did this well, as they followed up their first hit of the inning with another hit two out of three times. The only time the Lions didn’t follow up a hit with an out came in the bottom of the sixth when Jonah Stutler walked.

“We have got to put at-bats together,” Green said. “We can’t have a good at-bat followed by a bad at-bat. It’s got to be consecutive.”

Wollesen replaced Hardesty on the mound in the sixth, and the Cavaliers took the lead soon after. After a leadoff groundout, the Cavaliers hit a triple and brought the runner home on a single. Following a hit by pitch, the Lions got the next two outs with a strikeout and a fielder’s choice.

Wollesen walked with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, while Kress singled and Stutler walked to load the bases. On a passed ball, Wollesen was caught heading home for the third out.

Jefferson started the seventh with a walk and a single, and a sacrifice bunt moved the two runners into scoring position. The Cavaliers scored their third run on a passed ball and got on base with a walk. After an intentional walk, the Cavaliers hit a bases-clearing double to take a 6-1 lead.

Wollesen threw a strikeout for the second out of the seventh, and a lineout to second baseman Gavin Taylor put the Lions back at the plate for the final time.

Third baseman Logan Harris singled with one out but was the only Lion to get on base in the final inning, as two outs following his hit left him stranded to end the game.

“We need to come out, stick to our routine and stick to our approach,” Green said. “We can’t let this outcome lead to a loss tomorrow… We have to stay competitive in games.”

Lawrence will be back at Lawrence High on Friday to host Tea Area High School at 3:15 p.m.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence third baseman Logan Harris looks at the pitcher while baserunning in Lawrence’s 6-1 loss to Sioux Falls-Jefferson on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence third baseman Logan Harris watches a batter in Lawrence’s 6-1 loss to Sioux Falls-Jefferson on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Brady Wollesen winds up for a pitch in Lawrence’s 6-1 loss to Sioux Falls-Jefferson on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

The Lawrence baseball team celebrates with pitcher Hudson Hardesty as he walks off the field in Lawrence’s 6-1 loss to Sioux Falls-Jefferson on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence first baseman Saylor Jackson runs to first for a base hit in Lawrence’s 6-1 loss to Sioux Falls-Jefferson on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence pitcher Hudson Hardesty throws a pitch in Lawrence’s 6-1 loss to Sioux Falls-Jefferson on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Lawrence.