They just couldn’t get that third out.

The Packer baseball team allowed nine runs with two outs in a 10-4 season opening loss to Faribault at Seltz Field Thursday.

Every one of Faribault’s rallies where also triggered by Austin errors as nine of the Falcons’ runs were unearned.

“We just couldn’t close out the innings and we had some chances to close out those innings,” Austin head coach Troy Watkins said. “You can’t give extra outs in the Big Nine. That’s not going to work out for you.”

Faribault (1-0 overall, 1-0 Big Nine) tied the game up at three in the top of the third when a two-out throwing error by Austin shortstop Joey Swatfager allowed two runs to score and the Falcons added another run when Jose Carreon slapped a run scoring single.

Faribault scored on a sacrifice fly by Riley Schultz to take a 4-3 lead in the fourth and they put the game away by scoring four times in the fifth. Austin relief pitcher Robert Wahlert couldn’t handle a bunt to get the third out of the fifth and the next hitter, Jack Helgeson drilled a three-run triple to right field.

The Packers (0-1 overall, 0-1 Big Nine) took a 3-0 lead in the second inning when Jacob Hines came up with a sacrifice fly and Quinn Yocom drilled a two-out single up the middle to score two runs.

Austin didn’t get its next hit until sixth inning, when Mike Tindal tripled and Hines doubled him in.

“As the game went on, we started getting better swings,” Watkins said. “You just don’t know what you’re going to get in the first game and hopefully we continue to progress as the year goes on.”

Brady Klingfus started strong for Austin as he struck two of the first three hitters he faced.

Faribault 0 0 3 1 4 2 0 10 8 1

Austin 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 5 4

Austin pitching: Brady Klingfus (L), 4 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 K; Robert Wahlert, 1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 R, 0 ER; Joey Swatfager, 2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 K

Austin hitting: Jay Ettinger, 0-for-3, BB; Quinn Yocom, 1-for-3, 2 RBIs, BB; Swatfager, 1-for-3, SB, BB; Klingfus, 1-for-4; Preston Higbe, 0-for-2, R, BB, HBP; Mike Tindal, 1-for-3, triple, 2 R; Jacob Hines, 1-for-3, double, 2 RBIs; Andrew Kaiser, BB, R; Nate Paris, 0-for-2, BB; Jack Miller, 0-for-1; Wahlert, 0-for-1; Luke Mallory, 0-for-1

Faribault pitching: Matt Stocker (W), 4 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 K, HBP; Chris Chappius, 3 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K

Faribault hitting: Riley Schultz, 0-for-4, RBI; Josh Scheffler, 0-for-4, R, BB; Joe Grote, 1-for-3, 2 R, BB; Garrett Gulsvig, 2-for-3, double, 2 R, BB; Cole Casteel, 0-for-3, R, BB; Jose Carreon, 3-for-4, double, 3 RBIs; Stocker, 0-for-3, BB, R; Jack Helgeson, 2-for-4, double, triple, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Chappius, 2 BBs