The Austin baseball team couldn’t hold on to a three-run lead as it lost 13-8 to Northfield (12-5 overall) in the Riverland baseball complex Monday.

The Packers (8-11 overall) led 7-4 going into the sixth inning when the Raiders put eight runs on the board to take a 12-7 lead. Austin pitcher Isaac Schumacher came into the sixth on a roll, but he walked a pair of hitters early on and was eventually relieved.

Six of Northfield’s runs in that frame came after a two-out error by the Packers.

“There were plays to be made out there and we just didn’t make them in that inning,” Austin head coach Troy Watkins said. “We were hoping Schumacher could stick in there because he was effective with his offspeed stuff and they’re a fast ball hitting team.”

Austin had taken the lead with a big two-out rally in the fourth inning that saw Tommy Olmstead drive in two runs with a single, Nik Gasner push in a run with a walk and Marcus Stoulil double in two more runs to make it 7-4.

Austin will close out its season in Albert Lea Tuesday and it will open Section 1AAA tournament play Thursday against an opponent to be determined.

“It’s nice to get the bats rolling before tournament time,” Watkins said. “(Northfield) will be a top four seed in the section I’m sure and I felt we were right there with them for most of the game.”

Austin pitching: Isaac Schumacher (L), 5 1/3 IP, 12 H, 3 BB, 7 R, 6 ER, 4 K; Ethan Horstmann (L), 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 0 ER; Tommy Olmstead, 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 K

Austin hitting: Olmstead, 2-for-5, 2 RBIs, R; Gabe Kasak, 0-for-4, R, BB; Nik Gasner, 1-for-3, RBI; Marcus Stoulil, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, SB, R; Zach Huntley, 2-for-3, R, HBP; Hunter Gleason, 1-for-4, RBI, R; Sean Coffey, 2-for-3, R; Dylan Gasner, 1-for-1, RBI, R, 2 BBs