With their top two pitchers rested and ready, the prospects looked good for the Albert Lea Tigers in Tuesday’s Big Nine baseball doubleheader against Winona.

But Isaac Walton and Jay Link couldn’t do it alone.

The Tigers struggled offensively in both games and committed five errors in the second while falling 2-0 and 6-1 at Hayek Field.

&uot;Our pitchers did very well,&uot; said Tigers coach Joe Sczublewski. &uot;But we have to hit better than we showed today. We didn’t have a lot of good at-bats.&uot;

The Tigers managed just three hits and no walks while striking out 12 times against veteran Shawn Zaborowski in the opener. Link, Walton and Matt Bracker had the hits.

Walton went the route on the mound, striking out seven and walking two while giving up only three hits.

Only two of Winona’s six runs in the second game were earned against Link, who fanned six and walked two in five innings. Adam Highum finished on the mound.

Bracker had two of the Tigers’ four hits. Adam Drenth doubled. Link had a base hit.

The Tigers, 2-5 in the Big Nine and 2-7 overall, are off until Friday when they travel to Owatonna.

Game 1

Winona000

200

0 &045; 2

3

0

Albert Lea000

000

0 &045; 0

3

1

LP &045; Isaac Walton

Game 2

Winona120

300

0 &045; 6

8

3

Albert Lea100

000

0 &045; 1

4

5

LP &045; Jay Link