The Austin baseball team split a doubleheader as it lost 10-1 and won 7-6 in Faribault (5-11 overall, 5-10 Big Nine) Thursday.

Austin junior Nik Gasner played a big role in the win for the Packers (3-12 overall, 3-12 Big Nine) as he struck out seven and didn’t allow an earned run in seven innings and he also had a key RBI in the top of the seventh.

“Nik was pitching a great game and attacking the strike zone. We needed that as a team and he needed that personally,” Austin head coach Chris Gogolewski said.

Austin led 4-0 and the Faclons bounced back to tie it at 4-4 in the fourth. The Falcons had a 5-4 lead going into the final frame when Dylan Gasner and Nik Gasner each had RBI hits to put the Packers up for good.

“It was good to see them put together some hits, but we still left the bases loaded a few times,” Gogolewski said. “We still need those key hits.”

Austin had just four hits as it lost the opener.

Faribault 10, Austin 1

Austin pitching: Isaac Schumacher (L), 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 K; Ethan Horstmann, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 K; Dylan Gasner, 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R

Austin hitting: Horstmann, 1-for-3; Jacob Kempen, 1-for-4; Zach Wessels, 1-for-3; Alex Ciola, 1-for-3

Austin 7, Faribault 6

Austin pitching: Nik Gasner (W) 7 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 6 R, 0 ER, 7 K

Austin hitting: Horstmann, 1-for-4, double; Dylan Gasner, 2-for-3; Nate Conner, 1-for-1; Kempen, 1-for-4; Steven Clennon, 1-for-2; Ciola, 1-for-3