photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman right fielder Lucy Juelsgaard swings low for a hit in an 8-7 loss to Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Lawrence.

Lawrence softball’s late rally against the defending 6A champions Olathe Northwest came up short on Tuesday, as the Lions lost 8-7 to the Ravens.

Both pitchers started the game well, preventing either team from scoring in the first inning. Lawrence’s Keira Norris threw two strikeouts and allowed a single in the opening inning, while senior third baseman Maddy Crawford was the only Lion to get on base in the first with a walk.

The Ravens scored their first run of the game in the second inning with four singles, but Norris threw her fifth strikeout to retire the Ravens with the bases loaded. Julia Norris recorded the only hit for the Lions in the second inning with a single.

Lawrence’s defense rebounded from the hits allowed in the second inning with a strikeout from Keira Norris and a double play to senior shortstop Harper Dye and senior first baseman Lydia Folks. The Lions had another quiet inning in the third with one hit from left fielder Reese Dannevik.

The Ravens had a scoring burst in the top of the fourth, which became a difficult lead for the Lions to overcome. A double and triple started the inning and brought in a second run, followed by a sacrifice fly, bringing in the third. The Ravens scored on an error and a single in consecutive at-bats for the fourth run in the inning.

Lawrence got on the board with an RBI double from sophomore center fielder Julia Norris, followed by an RBI single from freshman right fielder Lucy Juelsgaard.

The Ravens led 5-2 at the top of the inning before scoring their final three runs. A triple with one out brought home two runs, and an error on the next play brought in the eighth of the game. The Lions secured two outs in the next two at-bats to retire the side.

Dye stepped to the plate, needing to give the Lions some life offensively. On her third pitch, she hit a home run. Freshman second baseman Zoey Barber doubled and Crawford walked in the next two at-bats. Freshman designated hitter Kate Neilson hit an RBI single, and Julia Norris loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Juelsgaard brought in the team’s fifth run on an RBI single, and Dannevick scored the sixth run on another RBI single in the next at-bat. Dye walked for the final run of the fifth, bringing the Ravens’ lead down to one run.

The defense retired the side in the first three at-bats in the top of the sixth. The Lions couldn’t gain any momentum later in the inning, recording only a single. The Lions converted a double play followed by an infield popout to enter the bottom of the seventh needing a run.

Hannah Butterbaugh threw three final strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win for Olathe Northwest. The Lions didn’t get anyone on base in the final inning.

Lawrence will finish out the week by hosting Washburn Rural on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and Spring Hill at 5:30 p.m. the same day.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Freshman designated hitter Kate Neilson runs home in an 8-7 loss to Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Lawrence.