The Tigers finished the regular season by hammering Rochester Century in a Big Nine doubleheader at Rochester, totaling 31 hits while winning 12-1 and 5-1.

Monday, May 21, 2001

The Tigers finished the regular season by hammering Rochester Century in a Big Nine doubleheader at Rochester, totaling 31 hits while winning 12-1 and 5-1.

It was part of a big day for Albert Lea softball teams, which went 6-0. The B-squad won 8-5 and 11-7, the ninth-grade 18-6 and 14-4.

&uot;It’s a great way to end the regular season,&uot; said Gayken, whose varsity improved to 4-13 in the conference and 6-14 overall.

The Tigers wasted no time getting started. Amber Sickels smacked the game’s first pitch for a double and later scored. She had four hits in the opener. Jenny Hovendick, Jerri Mondeel and Danielle Jacobs had three hits each. Emily Ulve and Rachel Chapek both had two hits, Rachel Tue and Leah Boyer one each.

Tue pitched all seven innings, scattering nine hits while walking two and striking out one.

&uot;The big difference was, mentally, our girls kept it together,&uot; said Gayken. &uot;If they made a mistake, they moved on. It also helped our defense to get the offense going so early.&uot;

It happened again in game two as Sickels hit the second pitch for a single, scoring on a one-out double by Hovendick.

&uot;Like I said before, the girls could play a lot better than they had been, and today was a prime example of it,&uot; said Gayken.&uot;

The Tigers open section tournament play Thursday with two games at Austin.

&160;

Game 1

Albert Lea 102 060 2 – 12 18 4

Rochester Century 000 010 0 – 1 9 3

WP – Rachel Tue

Game 2

Albert Lea 102 200 0 – 5 13 1

Rochester Century 000 010 0 – 1 4 3

WP – Rachel Tue