Packer baseball team falls to Albert Lea 16-13
Published 8:55 pm Monday, May 5, 2014
Austin’s Nik Gasner his greeted by his teammates at the plate after he hit a solo home run in the Packers’ 16-13 loss to Albert Lea in Dick Seltz Field Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
The Packer pitching staff struggled with control throughout the day as Austin lost 16-13 to Albert Lea in a baseball game in Dick Seltz Field Monday.
Austin’s pitchers issued 10 walks in the game and AL (4-3 overall, 3-3 Big Nine) took the lead for good when it scored five runs in then top of the fifth inning. The Tigers broke the game open when Chris Enderson hit a three-run triple and Parker Mullenbach had an RBI double in the fifth.
Austin’s Ethan Horstmann goes through his pitching motion against Albert Lea in Dick Seltz Field Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin senior Ethan Horstmann started the game on the mound for Austin, which will play five games in six days this week. Austin (1-7 overall, 1-7 Big Nine) will host Mankato East Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
“I was hoping we would’ve gotten more out of Ethan to get things going, but I was prepared for everybody to go,” Austin head coach Chris Gogolewski said. “They can throw an inning a day and we’ll be fine. Tomorrow is crucial and Mike [Gaines] has go five innings.”
The Packers scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 11-11, but they had just two hits in that frame as seven Packers drew walks in the inning. Nik Gasner hit a solo home run to left field to start the rally.
“We gave ourselves chances and they struggled throwing as well. We made good contact, but it hurts when they get a couple of double plays. I’m not worried about our offense,” Gogolewski said. “We’ve got to throw strikes. Far too many times the leadoff guy is getting on with a walk. Walks are killing us.”
Austin opened strong as it led 3-0 after two innings. Jacob Kempen and Alex Ciola singled in runs in the first inning and Steven Clennon doubled in a run. AL scored five runs in the third to take a 5-3 lead.
AL 0 0 5 6 5 0 0 — 16 12 2
Austin 3 0 0 8 1 0 1 — 13 10 4
Austin pitching: Ethan Horstmann, 3 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 K, 2 HBP; Isaac Schumacher, 0 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 4 ER; Hunter Lewis (L), 1 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 K; Steven Clennon, 2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 2 K
Austin hitting: Horstmann, 2-for-3, 2 R, BB; Nate Conner, 1-for-3, 2 R, BB; Jacob Kempen, 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, 2 R, 2 BBs; Shane Johannsen, 0-for-4, R, BB; Alex Ciola, 3-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Steven Clennon, 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, R; Nik Gasner, 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, R, BB; Schumacher, SB, BB; Brady McDermott, 0-for-1, 3 BBs, R; Lewis, R, SB, BB
