By Scott A. Kolb
Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
Runners left on base became a common theme for the Austin Packers on Tuesday in a pair of losses to Rochester Mayo at the North Todd Park complex.
The Austin offense failed to produce any runs in either game of the Big Nine Conference softball doubleheader. Mayo went on to sweep by scores of 5-0 and 11-0 in five innings.
Marie Clennon pitched both games for the Packers and was saddled with the losses. Kelli Clark got the pitching win for the Mayo Spartans in the opener, and Courtney Palmer picked up the win in the late game.
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"Not coming up with key hits was a big factor in these losses," Austin coach Steve Knox said. "We got the runners on base and had our chances to score, but didn’t get it done. We stranded two runners right away in the first inning of the opener, and never got the offense going."
Sara Alms singled to lead off the bottom of the first for the Packers in the opening game. After an out, Sara Sundberg stroked a single to put two runners aboard with one out.
Both runners moved into scoring position on a fielder’s choice grounder from Robin Arjes. But another groundout ended the Austin threat and Mayo scored two runs in the top of the second inning.
The Packers left a runner at third base in the fourth inning. The home team left a half-dozen runners on base in the shutout loss.
"That first inning was huge in the opener, and we also left a couple of runners on base in the sixth inning," Knox said. "We expect more from our hitters. If we get a couple of early runs in the first game, then our confidence level picks up. We didn’t give our pitcher any help."
Defensive miscues added to the Packers misery in the late game. Errors paved the way to a couple of big innings and the Spartans went on to invoke the 10-run rule.
The offense again left five runners stranded on base in the late game and when the defense broke down, Clennon began to waver on the hill. The freshman hurler for the Packers kept her team in the game for the first three innings, but the Spartans then scored a total of nine runs in their last two at-bats on the day.
"Marie faced some good hitters and she battled for both games," Knox said in summation. "The late game was even more frustrating because of all the errors. Our girls can play a lot better than we showed in these two games, and we have to cut down on the mistakes."
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Austin (2-5, 2-5 Big Nine) travels to Mankato East on Thursday.
MAYO 5, AUSTIN 0
First game
Mayo 020 011 1 — 5 7 2
Austin 000 002 0 — 0 2 1
Rochester Mayo: Lindsey Hoosier 1-3, 2B, RBI; Emily Jasperson 2-3, 2B, run, 2 RBIs; Marie Kazeck 1-1, 2 walks, 2 runs. WP: Kelli Clark 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K.
Austin: Sara Alms 1-3; Sara Sundberg 1-2, walk; Rachel Donovan 0-2, walk. LP: Marie Clennon 7 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 7 H, 4 BB, 6 K.
MAYO 11, AUSTIN 0, 5 INN.
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Second game
Mayo 002 45 — 11 11 1
Austin 000 00 — 0 2 4
Rochester Mayo: Hoosier 1-3, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Courtney Palmer 2-3, 2 runs. WP: Courtney Palmer 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K.
Austin: Sundberg 0-1, walk; Brandi Ruroden 1-2; Audrey DeVries 1-2; Emily Beckel 0-1, walk. LP: Clennon 5 IP, 11 R, 9 ER, 11 H, 1 BB, 1 HB, 1 K.
