The Austin softball team ran into a rough patch it couldn’t overcome in a 17-6 loss in six innings to Mankato West in Todd Park Tuesday.

The Packers (3-9 overall, 0-9 Big Nine) tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning when Abbey Ball hit a two-run homer to left field, but things went south from that point. The Scarlets (12-0 overall, 10-0 Big Nine) responded by scoring eight runs in the top of the fourth to put it away. West had three infield hits early in the frame to get things started.

“We battled for the first three innings,” Austin head coach Cindy Owen said. “Then it seemed to me like our communication shut down and things started happening for them. When we’re talking things are working well and clicking and we need to be more aggressive on defense.”

Austin racked up 10 hits in the game and their six runs are the second most the Scarlets have allowed all season.

“Mankato West is first in the Big Nine and for us to score six runs on them is pretty good,” Owen said. “But defensively we need to be talking about where the play is going and what the situation is.”

West 0 0 3 8 0 6 — 17 14 0

Austin 1 0 2 0 3 0 — 6 10 5

Austin pitching: Abbey Ball (L) 6 IP, 14 H, 5 BB, 17 R, 10 ER, 4 K

Austin hitting: Sydney Murphy, 1-for-4, R; Shayley Vesel, 3-for-4, double, 3 R; Abbey Ball, 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R; Jordan Huntley, 0-for-2; Bailee Brooks, 1-for-2, RBI; Jaidyn Bastian, 2-for-3, RBI; Keisha Berg, 0-for-3; McKenna Gleisner, 0-for-3; Abby Bickler, 1-for-3; Jesse Smith, R, BB