The Austin softball team was worried that after Tuesday's thrilling doubleheader split at Mankato East there might be a let-up against Owatonna Thursday at Todd Park.

After Angie Rohne's two-hitter, the Packers are worry-free.

Rohne replaced strep-throat stricken starter Amy Kelly in the circle and helped eleviate any doubts as to Austin's determination to win the Big Nine Conference title this season. The Packers scored five two-out runs and rolled to a 7-0 victory over the visiting Huskies.

"We needed to focus on the game at hand, and we wanted to get out of the gate for that reason mainly," said AHS coach Todd Waterbury, "and ease any worries Angie had coming in."

Rohne responded to the challenge with her second varsity win in as many starts, striking out three and walking none. She hit two batters, but batterymate Keri Feller picked off both baserunners.

Austin's offense staked Rohne to a 6-0 lead through the first two innings. Feller drove in Kylene Erstad with a single and Steph Eslinger plated Nicole Turvey with a sacrifice fly to center field.

In the second, all four AHS runs came with two outs. Erstad ripped her first of two RBI-doubles to start the rally. After Turvey singled and Feller walked, Eslinger forced home a run with a base on balls. Rohne helped her own cause with a two-run single.

Erstad plated Steph Sundberg with another two-out double in the fifth. Erstad finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs.

"We hit it hard for the most part," Waterbury said, "but I'd like to see us maintain our focus throughout the whole ballgame regardless of the score."

Six of Austin's nine hits came in the first two innings, and seven of the team's eight strikeouts followed the six-run outburst.

Linescore:

Owatonna0000000--023

Austin240010x--793

WP--Rohne (2-0). LP--Claywell.