The Albert Lea High School softball team didn’t get a victory, but the Tigers got improvement where they needed it most.

The Tigers, who have struggled defensively this spring, had just two errors in an 8-5 Big Nine loss to Owatonna at Hammer Field Thursday.

&uot;We were much improved,&uot; said ALHS coach Rick Harves. &uot;It was exciting to have the lead early, and again we finished the game strong.&uot;

The turning point, according to Harves, was probably the bottom of the third inning, when the Tigers led off with a single while holding a 3-2 lead.

&uot;They changed pitchers on us, and we had trouble timing the new pitcher,&uot; said Harves. &uot;It was the same girl we had trouble when we played them up there. She’s good, but not overpowering. We should have been able to hit her but couldn’t.&uot;

At least not until the bottom of the seventh, when Ashley Helgerson led off with a single and, one out later, Jenny Hovendick singled. Jerry Mondeel followed with a double to the fence to score both, but a fly out and a strikeout ended it.

After spotting Owatonna a run in the top of the first, the Tigers took a 3-1 lead in their half. Helgerson singled and scored on a passed ball, and Nicole Rafdal had a two-run single to score Hovendick and Mondeel, who both singled.

Helgerson was 3-for-4 for the second game in a row. Mondeel, Hovendick and Rafdal were 2-for-4, Jess Hanson 2-for-3.

&uot;Defensively, we played much better as a team,&uot; said Harves. &uot;We had one throwing error and a passed ball. We played good defense and had good communication.&uot;

Left fielder Ashley Chrz had the top defensive play, throwing out a baserunner at the plate in the sixth inning.

Rafdal again went the distance on the mound for the Tigers. She struck out one, walked two and hit one batter.

Owatonna improved its record to 5-7. The Tigers, 1-9 in the Big Nine and 2-11 overall, host Mankato East Monday.

Owatonna 8, Albert Lea 5

OW

110

222

0 &045; 8

11

0

AL

300

000

2 &045; 5

11

2

LP &045; Nicole Rafdal