The Austin baseball team put up a fight with 11 hits on Thursday, but a decisive sixth inning from Albert Lea proved too much to overcome, as the Packers fell 10-8 on the road.

The Tigers, now 7-3 overall, exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, turning a close game into a 10-6 lead that Austin couldn't fully erase. The Packers, who dropped to 4-9 overall, showed resilience but couldn't contain Albert Lea's late surge.

Haydn Quitmeyer and Casey Denzer led the offensive charge for Austin, each driving in two runs. Denzer went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored, while Quitmeyer was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run of his own. Noah Dunlap also had a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

On the mound, Keagen Duholm pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs while striking out seven and walking two. John Rollie took the loss after recording no outs and surrendering four earned runs on two hits and a walk. Brandon Rye closed out the game with 1/3 inning of work, giving up two hits and a walk but no runs, striking out one.

Other notable contributors for Austin included Keagen Duholm, who helped his own cause with a 2-for-3 day that included a double and an RBI, and John Rollie, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk. The Packers will look to bounce back and turn their offensive firepower into more wins down the stretch.