The Austin softball team couldn’t take advantage of a couple of early Owatonna mistakes as the Packers lost 7-2 to the Huskies in Todd Park Thursday.

Austin (5-11 overall, 2-10 Big Nine) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when it scored on a pair of Owatonna errors, but the Huskies (5-5 overall, 3-4 Big Nine) tied the game at 2-2 in the third and they took a 5-2 lead in the fourth when Owatonna was able to rack up four hits in the frame.

Austin had six hits in the loss, but it wasn’t able to sustain any rallies after the second inning.

“We’re still getting better, but sometimes we’ve got a long ways to go,” Austin head coach Al Eckmann said. “When you get behind, you can’t swing at pitches you’re not supposed to swing at. It’s painful learning, but we’re still learning.”

The Packers have four games remaining in the regular season as they will play at Albert Lea 11 a.m. Saturday and they will host Winona 5 p.m. Tuesday.

“We need to get ready for the playoffs and we’re playing with a lot of teams,” Eckmann said. “We’re getting better.”

Owatonna 0 0 2  3 0 0  2  —  7  10  3

Austin 0 2 0  0 0 0  0  —  2    6  2

Austin pitching: Tori Gardner (L) 5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 5, R, 3 ER, 3 K; Hannah Rasmussen, 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 2 K

Austin hitting: Halie Retterath, 2-for-5; Jordyn McCormack, 0-for-5; Adison Medgaarden, 0-for-4; Hannah McMasters, 1-for-2, BB, HBP; Kyra Walters, 1-for-4; Jenna Braaten, 0-for-4; Taylor Derry, 1-for-3, R, BB, SB; Courtney Kusick, 1-for-4, R; Justine Reimers, 0-for-3; Caitlin Kaercher, 0-for-1