The Austin softball team hit its first speed-bump Tuesday at Winona, but it's doubtful the Packers remember it.

Head coach Todd Waterbury wasn't worried about how his team would respond, but he was curious just the same. The facts are that the current team members have not experienced much indifference, including last year's 'B' squad contingent that finished the season undefeated.

Consider Coach Waterbury's curiosity satisfied.

The Packers (4-1, 4-1) pounded out 13 hits, committed no errors, and rolled over host Owatonna in a 9-0 Big Nine Conference clash Friday. Amy Kelly pushed her scoreless innings streak to 14 with seven more frames of two-hit ball. She walked one and struck out 10, and has not allowed an earned run in five games this season.

"No errors again, solid pitching, and double-figures in hitting," Coach Waterbury said. "It's a great way to end the week and get hungry for a busy week."

Austin has at least five games scheduled for the upcoming week, including a league doubleheader Tuesday at Albert Lea, and the annual Elks Softball Invite Friday and Saturday at Todd Park.

"The girls haven't had a lot of adversity. It's that unknown, wondering how well they are going to bounce back," Waterbury said. "It's nice to know that if we do hit a bump in the road, which can happen, they can take it in stride and put it behind them."

Austin didn't wait long to put Owatonna behind them, scoring twice in the second and third innings by coming through with timely hits. Kelly led off the second with a triple -- the only of 13 Packer hits to go for extra-bases -- and scored on a single by Keri Feller one out later. Feller's courtesy runner, Meggan Rider, scored on a single down the line by Stephanie Sundberg.

"She stepped up there and promptly hit one to right-center," Waterbury said of Feller's hit.

Feller finished 3-4 with a run scored and two runs batted it, and Kylene Erstad had her best offensive game yet by going 3-5 with an RBI and two runs. Sundberg chipped in with a pair of singles, a run scored and an RBI.

In two games since their only loss, Austin has 23 hits, 13 runs scored and just one error defensively. The Packers have 10 or more hits in four of five games.

Steph Eslinger came through with a two-out, two-run single in the third, and finished the game 1-3 with a walk and three RBIs. Betsy Hingeveld was 1-3 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Kelly's only hit was her triple in the second.

Four Owatonna errors spurred Austin's final two scoring innings. The Huskies had two errors in the Packers' three-run fourth and two more in Austin's two-run sixth.

Owatonna had hits in the fifth and seventh innings, moving a runner to third only once. Cassie Knopp reached with a walk to lead off the Huskies' half of the seventh, moved to second on a sacrifice, and advanced to third on a single by Brooke Halia. One out later, Rider made a tough grab on the run in right field to end the game.

"It wasn't shoestring, but it was in front of her," Waterbury said of the play. "It was a nice catch to end the game."

Catcher Amy Edel had Owatonna's only other hit, a single to leadoff the fifth.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

Linescore:

Austin0223020--9130

Owatonna0000000--024

WP--Kelly (4-1). LP--VonRuden.