The Owatonna Huskies managed to cut their errors in half.

The Albert Lea Tigers didn’t, and this time it cost them.

The Tigers, who won 11-10 at Owatonna despite committing eight errors on Friday, had seven fielding miscues Tuesday and lost 12-6 to Owatonna in a Big Nine Conference baseball game at Hayek Field.

&uot;Our defense is really letting us down,&uot; said Tigers coach Joe Sczublewski. &uot;We need to overcome that if we want to be successful.&uot;

Only four of the runs were earned for Owatonna, which improved its record to 5-3 in the Big Nine while the Tigers fell to 3-6.

Isaac Walton absorbed the pitching loss despite striking out eight batters in three innings. He walked two and allowed eight hits.

Zach Christenson, Jay Link and Adam Highum also pitched for the Tigers.

Two Owatonna pitchers combined to strike out seven and walk one.

Link was 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and one RBI. Walton was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Derek Goodnature also doubled. David Heijerman had a two-run single in the seventh. Scott Hoeg also singled in a run. The other Tiger hits were by Highum, Adam Lares and David Villarreal.

&uot;Offensively, we’re putting the ball in play,&uot; said Sczublewski. &uot;We just need to tighten up our defense. We need to play better ball is all there is to it. We need to make the routine plays and keep the other team to three outs an inning; if you can do that, you’ve got a chance to be successful.&uot;

The Tigers travel to Mankato West for a Big Nine doubleheader Thursday.

Owatonna

035

211

0 &045; 12

14

4

Albert Lea

010

021

2 &045;

6

10

7

LP &045; Isaac Walton