photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence third baseman Jonah Stutler reaches home plate in an 11-2 win over Tea Area High School on Friday, March 20, 2026, in Lawrence.

Lawrence baseball looked in trouble after giving up two early runs to Tea Area High School on Friday, but the Lions scored 11 straight runs to win their first game of the season.

The Titans started with two singles and a walk to load the bases in the first three plate appearances of the game. With one out, the Titans scored on a two-RBI double. Lawrence pitcher Jonas Homan struck out the next batter, and the Lions picked off a runner at second base to end the top of the first inning.

“Hits are not going to beat us, walks are going to beat us,” Lawrence coach Adam Green said. “(Homan) is doing what he’s taught to do there. We can’t panic. It’s the first inning, he’s filling the strike zone up. That’s what we want.”

Homan settled in after the first inning and allowed only a hit and a walk across the next four innings.

“I was happy with how he settled down,” Green said. “He is a kid who is going to give up some hits, but if he can command a breaking ball and he can command a second pitch, that’s how he’s going to have success for us.”

The Lions didn’t get a hit in the bottom of the first and only got a runner on base with Gavin Taylor being hit by a pitch. The Titans picked up a fourth hit to start the top of the second inning, but the Lions retired the next three batters in order.

Lawrence took the lead in the bottom of the second and held it the rest of the way. After a leadoff pop out, third baseman Jonah Stutler singled for the first Lawrence hit of the game. The Lions got two walks, and Stutler ran home on a passed ball during the latter plate appearance.

Center fielder Jaxon Becker doubled with two outs and drove in two runs, giving Lawrence a 3-2 lead, but he was picked off at second after taking his foot off the base.

“JB got us going with that double,” Green said. “I was real happy with him, and that got us going. That got the momentum in our dugout, and that’s where we kind of relaxed. That’s where we need to be from the first pitch.”

Homan gave up a walk in the top of the third, but the Lions converted a 1-6-3 double play to end the half inning. Taylor started the third with a double, and after stealing third, Taylor scored on an error. Two fielder’s choices ended the third inning with the Lions taking a 4-2 lead.

Lawrence retired the side in order in the fourth and added another three runs. Catcher Will Grimes singled to start the bottom of the fourth, and after stealing second and third, Grimes ran home on the throw to third. Becker got on base with a single and first baseman Hudson Hardesty walked, and both scored on a passed ball before the third out.

Homan pitched for the final time in the fifth, throwing only six pitches and retiring the side in order with a strikeout. He finished with two strikeouts against the four hits and two walks allowed.

Stutler walked in the first plate appearance of the bottom of the fifth, and he scored on a groundout two at-bats later.

Harrison Cobb came in to pitch in the sixth inning and walked two batters before the Lions got the third out. After an out in the first at-bat of the bottom of the sixth, Hardesty walked and right fielder Brady Wollesen got on base after being hit by a pitch. Stutler walked with two outs to load the bases, and Hardesty scored on a passed ball in the following at-bat.

Gavin Puza pinch hit in the sixth with the bases loaded and brought in two runners with a single. A flyout ended the sixth before the Lions could get a 10-run lead.

Cobb and the Lions quickly retired the side in the top of the sixth to win the game. Cobb started with a strikeout in four pitches, and the defense finished with a flyout and a groundout for the final two outs of the game.

Green said the Lions still have a number of arms he wants to see get on the mound, and the Lions will have another weekend to see the pitching depth as well as get the team’s bats ready for Sunflower League games.

Lawrence will face another team from outside Kansas on Thursday as the Lions host Park Hill South High School at 4:30 p.m.