The Austin softball team is still looking for its first Big Nine win of the season after it had a three-game winning streak snapped in a doubleheader at Albert Lea Thursday.

The Packers (3-8 overall, 0-8 Big Nine) dropped the nightcap 4-3 on an eighth inning, two-out passed ball and they lost the opener 16-9.

“We just had too many miscommunications and base running errors,” Austin head coach Cindy Owen said. “They hit the ball very well.”

Shayley Vesel hit a two-run homer in the first game for Austin and Erin Dankert went 4-for-8 on the day.

Austin had come into Thursday’s games on high note as it won the Austin Elks Invite tournament over the weekend by beating Dover-Eyota, Pine Island and Esko.

AL 16, Austin 9

Austin pitching: Jaidyn Bastian (L) 7 IP, 16 H, 5 BB, 16 R, 11 ER, 2 K

Austin hitting: Shayley Vesel, 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Sydney Murphy, 1-for-4, 2 RBIs; Abbey Ball, 1-for-4; Jesse Smith, 1-for-4; Erin Dankert, 2-for-4

AL 4, Austin 3

Austin pitching: Abbey Ball (L) 7 2/3 IP, 10 H, 2 BB, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 K

Austin hitting: Abby Bickler, 2-for-4; Dankert, 2-for-4; Vesel, 1-for-3, BB; Ball, 1-for-4; Keisha Berg, 1-for-3