The Austin softball team missed out on some big scoring chances in a 7-2 loss to Mankato East at Todd Park Tuesday.

The Packers (1-4 overall, 1-4 Big Nine) had the bases loaded with one out in the second and third innings and couldn’t score in either frame.

“We couldn’t generate a hit when we needed to score,” Austin head coach Tina Strauss said. “We had too many strikeouts and we had too many chances that we didn’t capitalize on.”

The Cougars (3-3 overall, 3-3 Big Nine) never scored more than two in an inning, but they scored at least once in five innings.

The Packers scored two runs in the fourth to make it 3-2, but didn’t score again.

“They just chipped away at us,” Strauss said.

Mankato East 0 1 0 2 1 1 2 — 7 7 2

Austin 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 — 2 5 3

Austin pitching: Marie Clennon (L), 5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 BB, 3 ER, 4 K; Jenny Yocom, 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 ER

Austin hitting: Audrey DeVries, 2-for-3; Sara Sundberg, 1-for-3, RBI; Kaycee Lukes, 1-for-4