"When you aren't hitting, everything else is magnified," was what Austin baseball coach Kris Fadness had to say after his Packers ended the regular season with a 4-2 loss at home to Mankato West Saturday at Marcusen Park.

Austin tallied seven hits -- all singles -- and lost a 2-0 lead to finish the season 5-15 overall and 5-12 in the Big Nine Conference. The Packers had one hit in each inning, forcing across solo runs in the first and second innings.

Kyle Rizzi, who went 3-4 at the plate, scored when Jordan Van Proosdy's grounder to third was misplayed. Andy Swank walked with one out in the second, moved to third on a single by Mike Leathers and scored on a passed ball.

Mankato West came back with a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Designated hitter Jeff Case chased Rizzi from the mound with a two-run double in the sixth, capping the Scarlets' three-run outburst. West connected on four straight hits, bookended by a pair of doubles. Tim Johnson relieved Rizzi for the final 1 2/3 innings.

"We just have to score more than two runs," Rizzi said after the game. "It would have been nice to get a sweep of these guys."

Austin defeated West in Mankato by a 4-3 score earlier this season.

Rizzi struck out five in his 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits. Five of West's hits off Rizzi went for extra-bases.

Scarlet pitcher Adam Sorenson went the distance, striking out five and walking two. Sorenson also helped his own cause with a 3-4 day at the plate that included a double and a triple.

The Packers will likely face one of the top two seeded teams in Section 1AAA baseball, which begins Wednesday.

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

Linescore:

West0000130--491

Austin1100000--272

Sorenson and Salsbery; Rizzi, T.Johnson (6) and Bowe. WP--Sorenson. LP--Rizzi. 2B--Umhoefer, Sorenson, Case, Dobson. 3B--Sorenson.