Tigers split doubleheader with Spartans

Published 2:31 pm Saturday, April 27, 2013

The Albert Lea baseball team shut out Rochester Mayo 3-0 in game one of a doubleheader and lost 12-1 in game two.

In game one, Lucas Hansen earned the win on the mound for the Tigers.

“Lucas mixed up his pitches, and we played pretty good defense in both games,” Albert Lea head coach Joe Sczublewski said. “He pitched out of a few tough jams, and we had a few nice double plays.”

Lucas Hansen of Albert Lea makes a catch near third base earlier this season in a 4-2 win over Rochester John Marshall. Hanson pitched in game one Friday against Rochester Mayo. He earned the win in seven innings on the mound. He struck out five batters and allowed five hits, three walks and no runs. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Lucas Hansen of Albert Lea makes a catch near third base earlier this season in a 4-2 win over Rochester John Marshall. Hanson pitched in game one Friday against Rochester Mayo. He earned the win in seven innings on the mound. He struck out five batters and allowed five hits, three walks and no runs. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

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Hansen pitched all seven innings. He struck out five batters and allowed five hits, no runs and three walks.

Albert Lea broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with two outs. A single by Derek Burkard scored Makael Lunning and Johnathan Fleek, Sczublewski said.

In the sixth innning, the Tigers added to their lead. Wyatt Paulsen advanced to second with a walk and stolen base. Paulsen made his way home on a triple by Chris Enderson.

“We had a couple timely hits and ran the bases well,” Sczublewski said.

Albert Lea earned five stolen bases: Fleek and Paulsen each had two, and Dylan See-Rockers had one.

In game two, Rochester Mayo found its groove behind the plate. The Spartans built a five-run lead by the third inning with three runs in the first and two in the second.

Four pitchers saw action for Albert Lea: Enderson, Burkard, Tyler Steele and Paulsen.

Sczublewski gave his bullpen some experience, as Steele and Paulsen are sophomores.

“We’re going to need pitching depth with so many games coming up,” Sczublewski said.

Ryan Martin of Rochester Mayo pitched the entire game for the Spartans with 13 strike-outs, four hits and one walk.

“He’s a tough left-hander,” Sczublewski said.

The Tigers scored their only run in the sixth inning. After an infield single, Fleek advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right field by Hansen.

Albert Lea is 2-1 on the season.

Next, the Tigers play at Northfield at 5 p.m. Monday. The game will be against Albert Lea’s first non-conference opponent.