OWATONNA &045; Errors and a lack of clutch hitting led to a 7-2 loss at Owatonna Thursday for the Albert Lea High School softball team.

The Tigers, whose record fell to 1-8, had seven fielding errors and nine strikeouts, including three with two runners on base.

&uot;We need to eliminate our errors and hit the ball better if we’re going to win the game,&uot; said assistant coach Rick Harves. Head coach Sherrie Gayken missed the game because of the death of a family member.

Nicole Rafdal pitched well enough to win, according to Harves. She gave up eight hits and two walks, striking out one.

Harves attributed all four of the Huskies’ first-inning runs to errors.

The Tigers had six hits. Danielle Jacobs was 2-for-3. Ashley Chrz, Amber Edwards, Laura Olson and Rafdal contributed one hit each.

The Tigers have a busy week coming up. They play at Rochester John Marshall Tuesday, host Mankato East Thursday and travel to Rochester Mayo Friday.

Albert Lea

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002

0 &045; 2

6

7

Owatonna

410

200

x &045; 7

8

2

LP &045; Nicole Rafdal