The Albert Lea Tigers entered Saturday’s doubleheader with arch-rival Austin looking for their first baseball victory of the spring, and they had opportunities to find it.

But it continued to be elusive.

After dropping the opener 10-4, the Tigers lost a frustrating 10-inning, 5-1 decision in game two at Hayek Field.

&uot;It’s very tough,&uot; said coach Joe Sczublewski, whose team fell to 0-9. &uot;We’ve lost some tough games this year. We’ve played hard, we’re right in the games. We just haven’t been able to find the key hit with people in scoring position.&uot;

The Tigers out-hit the Packers 10-7 in the first game but had four errors to Austin’s one.

Nate Loberg and Derek Goodnature were both 3-for-4 for the Tigers. Adam Wacholz went 2-for-3. Josh Diaz and David Villarreal had one hit each.

Kyle Rizzi led the Packers, pitching six innings for the win and getting three hits, a single, double and triple.

Goodnature took the loss, allowing five earned runs in six innings.

Errors proved the difference in the next game as two Albert Lea fielding miscues led to four unearned runs in the top of the 10th. Catcher Mark Ball delivered the key hit for the Packers, a two-run single. Ball, Joe Kroc and Andy Swank had two hits apiece.

The Tigers scored in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Villarreal.

Albert Lea had the winning run on second with one out in the bottom of the seventh but could not score.

&uot;We had opportunities,&uot; said Sczublewski. &uot;We had people in scoring position on several occasions.&uot;

Villarreal finished 3-for-5, Goodnature 2-for-4. Wacholz, Ben Meillier, David Heijerman and Diaz each had one hit.

Klukow pitched a strong nine innings, scattering eight hits while allowing one earned run. He walked one and struck out four.

The Tigers host Rochester Mayo Monday.