Austin’s baseball game with Faribault Friday afternoon was a game with two stories

The two teams combined for 20 hits as pitchers struggled throughout the game, but it was Faribault, who fending off a late rally by the Packers, came out on top, 10-9 at Riverland Community College

“There were people on base the entire game,” assistant coach Bob Stratton said. “It was kind of a last man standing kind of thing.”

Austin outhit the Falcons with 11 of the 20 combined hits and even had a chance to get the game with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning and one out.

But Faribault got Austin to hit into a doubleplay, ending the threat and the game.

“The pitching got erratic,” Stratton said. “But both teams battled.”

Austin had nine players reach base on walks while Faribault saw five runners reach on balls.

Austin was led by Gabe Kasek who was 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a walk. Hunter Gleason was 3-for-4 and Zach Huntley was 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Jacob Kempen started the game, given up seven hits, striking out three, walking four and giving up seven runs, all earned. Ethan Horstmann took the loss with one strikeout in three and half innings. He walked three and gave up two hits.

Austin slips to 1-3 on the season with an upcoming doubleheader with Mankato East on Monday, at Riverland, starting at 4 p.m.