WINONA &045; Coach Rick Harves couldn’t feel bad about the way his team played in the opening game of a season-ending doubleheader.

He had to feel bad about the outcome.

The Tigers twice stranded baserunners on third while falling 2-0. The Winhawks went on to take game two 10-2.

&uot;We went out and played real hard the first game,&uot; said Harves. &uot;We had chances to score early and didn’t. It was ours to win. In the second game, the wheels kind of came off.&uot;

Nicole Rafdal did her best to help the Tigers win the opener, collecting two of Albert Lea’s five hits and pitching one of her strongest games of the year, striking out three and walking none. Ashley Chrz, Jerri Mondeel and Jess Hanson had Albert Lea’s other hits.

The Tigers collected just two hits in game two, one each by Chrz and Mondeel. Rafdal pitched.

&uot;Now, we need to refocus and get ready for section,&uot; said Harves.

The Tigers, who finished 2-15 in the Big Nine and are 3-17 overall, are seeded last among 14 teams in Section 1AAA. They open section play Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Austin against third-seeded Lakeville. Win or lose, they’ll play again at 8 p.m.

Winona 2, Albert Lea 0

AL

000

000

0 – 0

5

2

W

000

101

x – 2

7

2

LP – Nicole Rafdal

Winona 10, Albert Lea 2

AL

002

000

0 –

2

2

5

W

004

015

x –

10

15

2

LP – Nicole Rafdal