Austin shortsop Shayley Vesel hauls in a throw in a steal attempt by Mankato East’s Kayla Fingerson in Todd Park Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

The Austin softball team committed a couple of crucial errors in a 3-0 loss to Mankato East in Todd Park Monday.

The Cougars (10-4 overall, 8-3 Big Nine) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning without even getting a hit. East drew two walks and they scored both runs off of Austin throwing errors.

Austin pitcher Abbey Ball fires a pitch against Mankato East in Todd Park Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin pitcher Abbey Ball kept the Packers (4-10 overall, 1-10 Big Nine) in the game by allowing five hits and just one earned run in the game.

“We had communication errors,” Austin head coach Cindy Owen said. “Defensively, skill-wise we played pretty solid, but communication was our biggest problem again.”

The Packers had six hits in the game, but they drew just one walk and they never could get a rally going. Austin had runners on first and second with two outs in the second and sixth innings, but Mankato freshman Morgan Keim-Wolfe was able to pitch her way out of it both times.

“We had a hard time hitting,” Owen said. “We were anxious and she had us swinging at a lot of high balls.”

Austin’s outfield played a solid game as sophomore Bailee Brooks made a big running catch in center field in the first inning and senior Erin Dankert made a running grab in left field later in the game.

“Bailee and Erin did a nice job out there,” Owen said. “They had a couple of girls that could hit the ball very well and our outfielders made some nice plays out there.”

East 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 — 3 5 1

Austin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 6 3

Austin pitching: Abbey Ball (L), 7 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 K

Austin hitting: Sydney Murphy, 0-for-3, BB; Shayley Vesel, 1-for-4, double; Ball, 1-for-3, double; Bailee Brooks, 0-for-3; Jordan Huntley, 1-for-3; Jaidyn Bastian, 0-for-3; Erin Dankert, 2-for-3; Keisha Berg, 1-for-3; Abby Bickler, 0-for-3