The Austin softball team racked up 31 hits as it swept Albert Lea (0-3 overall, 0-3 Big Nine) by scores of 13-1 in six innings and 5-4 in Albert Lea Thursday.

The Packers (3-1 overall, 3-1 Big Nine) led the nightcap 5-1 after Marie Clennon knocked in a run in the top of the seventh, but the bottom of the seventh got a little crazy.

The Tigers scored three runs and had the winning run on second with two outs when Clennon stuck out Albert Lea’s last hitter on a called strike three.

“It was getting dark and Marie said she couldn’t see the signs,” Austin head coach Tina Strauss said. “She asked me if she could just pitch and I said ‘sure.’”

Clennon finished with 11 strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs in seven innings and Abbey Ball struck out seven and allowed zero earned runs in the opener.

“Out pitchers did an outstanding job of keeping them off balanced,” Strauss said.

Austin got a boost from a couple of freshman as well as freshman Sydney Murphy finished five-for-seven with a double on the day and freshman Abby Bickler knocked in seven runs.

“Sydney is kind of our rock on defense and she’s doing well at catcher behind the plate,” Strauss said.

Austin will host Owatonna next Tuesday for its home opener at Todd Park at 5 p.m.

“I hope we can carry some of the momentum we’ve picked up to that game,” Strauss said.

Austin 3 2 1 0 1 6 — 13 17 1

AL 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 6 1

Austin pitching: Abbey Ball (W), 6 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 7 K

Austin hitting: Katelyn Joseph, 2-for-4, 2 R; , 2 R; Marie Clennon, 4-for-4, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Ball, 3-for-4, double, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Taylor Hackensmith, 1-for-3, 3 RBIs; Sydney Murphy, 2-for-4, double, RBI, 2 R; Abby Bickler, 2-for-4, double, RBI, 2 R; Kallie Hart, 2-for-4, R

Austin 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 — 5 14 4

AL 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 — 4 4 0

Austin pitching: Clennon (W), 7 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 R, 2 ER, 11 K

Austin hitting: Joseph, 3-for-4, double, R; Clennon, 1-for-3, RBI; Ball, 3-for-4, 2 doubles, R; Hackensmith, 2-for-4, R; Murphy, 3-for-3, 2 R; Bickler, 1-for-3, 4 RBIs