A couple breaks did not go in favor of the Albert Lea High School softball team, but it didn’t make the difference in the outcome.

Mankato East was just too strong.

The Cougars came to town with a quick, athletic squad Monday and defeated the Tigers 12-2 in a Big Nine game at Hammer Field.

&uot;We had some bad breaks, but Mankato East was quicker than us,&uot; said ALHS coach Rick Harves. &uot;They’re a very quick team. They put the ball in play. It’s hard to get them out.&uot;

It was especially tough in the top of the sixth inning, when East sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs as the Tigers had trouble fielding the ball.

&uot;Other than that inning, the girls played pretty good defense,&uot; said Harves. &uot;They hit the ball better than we did.&uot;

The Tigers trailed 5-0 when they got on the board in the fourth as Jenny Hovendick singled and came around on a combination of passed balls and wild pitches.

In the fifth, Jess Hanson walked and scored on an Ashley Chrz single.

Chrz was 2-for-4 for half of the Tigers’ hits. Hanson tripled.

Nicole Rafdal walked four batters and struck out one while pitching a complete game for Albert Lea.

&uot;She pitched hard,&uot; said Harves. &uot;She’s hanging in there doing a good job. Pitching is not our problem right now. We need to hit the ball better and play good defense.&uot;

The Tigers fell to 1-3 while East improved to 2-0.

The ALHS girls play at Rochester Mayo today and at John Marshall Thursday.

Mankato East 12, Albert Lea 2

ME

201

206

1 &045; 12

13

1

AL

000

110

0 &045;

2

4

5

LP &045; Nicole Rafdal