The high-scoring rivalry that was Austin versus Albert Lea baseball from a year ago was turned into a classic pitching matchup, and the Tigers' Isaac Walton won the duel.

Walton struck out 11 and allowed only one Austin hit over eight innings in a 1-0 Big Nine Conference loss for the host Packers Saturday afternoon at Marcusen Park. Adam Highum's sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning drove in pinch-runner David Villarreal with the game-winning run, and Walton retired the side in the bottom half.

Walton sent the Packers down in order in seven of eight innings, excluding the fourth. Austin's Matt Johnson lined a grounder off Walton's glove, and the ball rolled slowly towards second to allow Johnson time to get up the line. Walton then walked Nick Bowe to put two runners on for the Packers, but he came back to strike out Andy Klapperick to end Austin's only threat.

The Packers' Kyle Rizzi was just as good on the other side of the scorebook, striking out a season-high 10 in the complete-game loss -- his second one-run defeat. Rizzi struck out the side in the second and seventh innings, but could not get the run support he needed.

"I was just hoping to get the win," Rizzi said. "You pitch seven scoreless innings you usually get the win, but not today anyways."

A one-out double by the Tigers' No. 9 hitter Derek Goodnature produced what would eventually be the game-winning run. Villarreal came in to pinch-run and moved to third on a single to left two pitches later by Jay Link.

Rizzi moved ahead on a free-swinging Goodnature to a 0-2 count and narrowly missed what for seven innings seemed to be a generous outside corner. Rizzi went back to the same spot, and Goodnature poked the pitch down the right-field line for extra bases.

"I thought I got it with that pitch, so I threw one in the same spot and he stuck the bat on it," Rizzi said. "It was a nice piece of hitting."

Two batters later, with runners now on second and third after Link stole second, Highum lifted a fly ball to right field, and Beau Webber's throw home, although on target, was just late to get Villarreal.

Johnson and Bowe were the only Packer batters to reach base. Austin (1-4, 1-3) has lost three of its four games by one run, while Albert Lea (2-4, 2-3) got their first win since the season-opener against John Marshall.

Knoebel's heroicism short-lived

ROCHESTER -- For one full inning it seemed Jim Knoebel would be Austin's hero.

The senior first baseman came into Friday's game as a part of a double switch, substituting relief pitcher Mike Leathers for starter Tim Johnson in the bottom of the sixth. Knoebel, fresh off the bench, made two defensive plays and was due up fourth in the top of the seventh with the Packers trailing by two to Rochester Century -- arguably the best team in the Big Nine Conference.

Adam VanProosdy reached with an infield single, and one out later Leathers walked. Knoebel watched from the on-deck circle as Panthers' pitcher Mike Badger warmed up in relief of Pete Zblewski, the left-hander who had silenced Austin's bats for five full innings.

The Packers tallied three runs in the top of the sixth to get back to 4-3, but Century added another on Lee Anderson's solo home run to right-center field. Knoebel ended the inning with an over-the-shoulder catch running towards Century's dugout.

Trailing 5-3, Knoebel had nothing but fastball on his mind when he stepped to the plate, and that's what he saw. Knoebel launched Badger's first pitch -- a belly-high fastball over the heart of the plate -- over the left-center field fence at Rochester's Mayo Field, moving Austin into a 6-5-lead.

The blast sent shockwaves through Century's dugout and celebration throughout the Packers' bench, but it only seemed to awaken the Panthers. Century seemed well on its way to a decisive but lackluster victory, but Knoebel forced them to prove their worth -- and they did.

Leathers surrendered a seeing-eye single to the first batter in the bottom of the seventh and came out in favor of Andy Klapperick, who's luck was no better, worse in fact. The meat of Century's order came to the plate, and back-to-back doubles did in the Pack in a 7-6 Big Nine Conference loss.

"Maybe I should have left Leathers in," Austin coach Kris Fadness said. "I don't know, I can second guess myself all I want but it's not going to do any good."

Fadness made the right move to bring Knoebel into the game. Johnson silenced Century after the Panthers' three-run first inning left the Pack in an early hole, and Leathers provided a strong relief effort.

Austin responded to score three times after having just two hits entering the sixth. Leathers doubled to right-center and Johnson did the same. With two outs, Matt Johnson singled back up the box and Nick Bowe drove him home with another single up the middle.

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

Linescore:

Austin0000033--681

Century3001012--7100

T.Johnson, Leathers (6), Klapperick (7) and Anderson; Zblewski, Badger (7) and Jans. WP--Badger. LP--Klapperick.