ALBERT LEA — Just when it looked like they had let one slip, the Post 91 baseball team bounced back to beat Albert Lea 9-6 on the road Thursday in a Legion baseball game.

Austin (1-1 overall) allowed AL to score four times in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at six, but Preston Higbe knocked in two runs with a one-out single in the top of the ninth.

Austin had scored four times in the top of the seventh to go up 6-2, before AL tied it up.

“This game had all the emotion, I’ll say that, from exasperation to anger,” said Post 91 head coach Bob Stratton. “We’re lucky to win this game.”

Austin’s Brady Klingfus didn’t get the win on the mound, but he had a good outing. He allowed six hits, five walks and just one earned run while striking out five in six and one-thirds innings.

“I was impressed with how Brady pitched tonight,” Stratton said.

Through the first five innings, the game was a pitchers’ duel between Albert Lea starter Logan Kortan and Post 91 starter Brady Klingfus.

Klingfus kept the Post 56 hitters off balance by mixing his pitches well. He limited Albert Lea to two hits entering the seventh inning.

Kortan was just as tough, keeping Austin off the board for five innings and allowing just three hits.

In the top of the seventh the offense showed up for both teams in full force.

Austin got to Albert Lea reliever Jordan Cooper for four runs in the top of the seventh as John Kirby, Swatfager and Nate Wahlert each connected for RBI singles. Wahlert drove in two runs to take the 6-2 lead.

Facing a four-run deficit and down to its final out Post 56 found a way to tie the game. Connor Kortan laced a bases-loaded double to tie the game at 6 as he cleared the bases that spelled the end for Klingfus.

“I really feel sorry for my left-hander,” Stratton said. “He didn’t deserve the fate. He pitched a great game.”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E

A 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 0 3 9 13 3

AL 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 6 7 2

Post 91 pitching: Brady Klingfus, 6 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 BB, 6 R, 1 ER, 5 K; Joel Swatfager (W), 2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K

Post 91 hitting: Andrew Orcutt, 3-for-6; John Kirby, 3-for-5; Mark Harber, 2-for-5, double; Swatfager, 2RBIs; Robert Wahlert, 2 RBIs; Preston Higbe, 2RBIs; Adam Hemann, double