MANKATO &045; Things started badly for the Albert Lea Colonels.

They also ended that way.

The Colonels committed some errors that led to three first-inning runs and they went on to lose 11-1 in seven innings in a Southern Minny League baseball game at Mankato Sunday night. The loss left the Colonels 3-9 overall and 2-5 in the league while Mankato improved to 5-1 in the Southern Minny.

The Colonels collected only three hits. They had twice that many errors.

&uot;We just got outplayed, basically,&uot; said Colonels manager Bill Trygstad. &uot;We didn’t play a very solid game. You’re not going to win with only three hits. We’ve got to hit the ball better and play better defense. We need to pick it up and get back at it.&uot;

The Colonels trailed 3-0 when they got on the board in the top of the third inning, when David Dahl doubled and came all the way around to score when a pickoff attempt got past the second baseman and the center fielder.

Mankato answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, adding one each in the fifth and sixth and ending it the seventh by the 10-run rule.

The other Albert Lea hits were a double by James Gonzalez and a single by Matt Trygstad. Justin Kohn walked three times.

The Colonels cost themselves some runs with miscues on the base paths. They had a runner thrown out at the plate and, another time, had the bases loaded with one out but could not score.

Adam Berge pitched the first six innings for Albert Lea. yielding seven runs on nine hits, striking out five and walking four. Three of the runs were earned. Jeff Schulz pitched the seventh, which started with an Albert Lea error, and he went on to give up four runs on four hits; he had two strikeouts and one walk.

Right-hander Joe Barr got the win for Mankato, striking out seven, walking six and hitting one batter in six innings. Chad Heminover pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.

Gonzalez played a strong defensive game, throwing out runners attempting to steal second and third base in the second inning.

The Colonels hope to bounce back Wednesday when they host Waseca, a perennial league power that Albert Lea defeated earlier this year. They travel to Blue Earth Saturday night for a rescheduled game and host New Ulm Sunday night.

&uot;The guys are better ballplayers than they’re showing right now,&uot; said Bill Trygstad. &uot;They just have to relax and play a little better.&uot;

Mankato 11, Colonels 1

Albert Lea

001

000

0 – 1

3

6

Mankato

302

011

4 – 11

13

1

LP – Adam Berge