The Austin baseball team gave the top team in the Big Nine a game, but they couldn’t get enough offense in a 6-2 loss to John Marshall that was called after five innings due to rain at Seltz Field Tuesday.

The Packers (4-14 overall, 2-14 Big Nine) left seven runners in scoring position in a game that saw them struggle to get the big hit off of Derek Hovick of JM (16-1 overall).

“Hovick’s a good pitcher,” Austin head coach Troy Watkins said. “I thought we did a nice job of attacking and hitting the ball up the middle. We just couldn’t get the clutch. It could’ve been a different game if we get a key hit in one of those innings.”

Austin did come through when Mark Harber drilled a two-run double to the opposite field to the game at two in the third inning. But Harber was stranded at second as the next three Packers were all retired.

In the top of the fourth, the Rockets finally got to Austin pitcher Dylan Monson. Jordan Stokes started the rally with a two-out run-scoring single and he ended up scoring on an Austin throwing error before Joe Moen drilled a solo homer to give JM a 5-2 lead.

“Dylan just needs to continue to compete and pitch,” Watkins said. “He threw strikes and they’re a good hitting team that’s scored a lot of runs this year. You’re not gonna shut that team down completely.”

The Packers will head to Mankato East Wednesday for a 4 p.m. game.

1 2 3 4 5 R H E

JM 1 0 1 3 1 6 11 3

A 0 0 2 0 0 2 5 2

Austin pitching: Dylan Monson (L), 5 IP, 11 H, 3 BB, 6 ER, 1 K

Austin hitting: Steven Rizzi, 2-for-3, 2 doubles, R; Joel Swatfager, 0-for-2, R, BB; Mark Harber, 1-for-3, double, 2 RBIs; Adam Hemann, 1-for-3; Brady Klingfus, 0-for-3; Nate Wagner, 0-for-2, BB; Monson, 1-for-3; Jordan Hall, 0-for-1, BB; Nate Justice, 0-for-2

JM pitching: Derek Hovick, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 6 K

JM hitting: Jordan Stokes, 1-for-4, RBI; Joe Moen, 3-for-3, HR, RBI; Hovick, 2-for-2, 2 BBs; Brian Anderson, 1-for-3, RBI; Matt Miller, 1-for-3, RBI; Alex Peterson, 0-for-2; Andrew Nelson, 2-for-3; Andrew Roble, 0-for-3; Kirby Reeping, 1-for-2, RBI