It must be comforting to know that sometimes your less-than-best is still good enough.

The Austin High softball team took solace in that fact after the Packers' 8-3 Big Nine Conference win over John Marshall Tuesday in Rochester. Austin scored runs in five of seven at-bats but committed a season-high four errors in the victory.

"At times we got a little flat," said Austin coach Todd Waterbury. "We didn't always keep the ball rolling.

"It was good, but not great. We have to learn how to sustain seven innings of a game."

The Packers stranded runners on base in each of the seven innings, provided by 12 hits, two walks and one hit batsman.

"They took their cuts," Waterbury said. "Sometimes we struggle with a little slower pitching. Offensively I was glad to see the girls be able to drive the ball for the majority of the game."

Packer pitcher Amy Kelly struck out 11 -- her second-best total this season -- while allowing four hits and three Rocket runs, all of which were unearned. John Marshall loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth and scored all three runs on a single to left field that was misplayed. Kelly took care of the rest on her own, getting two strikeouts and a grounder back to the mound to get out of the inning. After allowing the run-scoring single, Kelly struck out five of the final nine batters she faced.

"Amy really had the drop-ball working today," Coach Waterbury said. "The defense, other than that inning, made a couple nice plays."

JM's first two batters in the fifth reached on errors.

Austin cashed in on the Rockets' five fielding miscues, scoring six unearned runs against starter Carrie Lehnert. Lehnert allowed 12 hits in six-plus innings, leaving with two runners on base in the seventh. Reliever Becky Graf got out of the inning unscathed despite three well-hit balls.

Kylene Erstad's experience at the top of the Austin order paid immediate dividends. The sophomore finished 3-5 with three singles, one run scored and an RBI. Keri Feller and Nicole Turvey each went 2-4 with a double and two runs batted in.

Every position in the Austin batting order accounted for one run, excluding Stacy Draayer, who was on base in three of four plate appearances.

The Packers (9-2, 8-1) play Thursday at Faribault at 5 p.m. and return home Saturday for a 1 p.m. match with Rochester Mayo. Kelly's season-high strikeouts (12) was against Mayo in the first meeting this season, which resulted in a 2-0 Austin win in eight innings.

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