The Austin softball team lost to Mankato West (3-1 overall, 3-0 Big Nine) 7-5 on the road Thursday.

The Packers (8-4 overall, 5-3 Big Nine) led 3-0 early on, but they couldn’t hold on to the lead.

“I thought it was a great softball team between two pretty good softball teams,” Austin head coach Al Eckmann said. “We’re hanging with the best teams in the Big Nine.”

Austin pitching: Kennedy Bradford (L) 6 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 8 K

Austin hitting: Jordyn McCormack, 2-for-4; Hannah McMasters, 2-for-4; Avery Thompson, 2-for-4