ALBERT LEA &045;&160;The Albert Lea softball team picked up its fourth win of the season splitting a Big Nine Conference doubleheader with Owatonna.

The Tigers won the first game 3-2 before they lost a tight second contest 2-1.

In the opener, Albert Lea went into the bottom of the seventh trailing 2-1, but the Tigers were able to string some hits together to pull out the win.

Marissa Cottrell got things started with a single and Shelby Vietze followed with an RBI triple that drove in courtesy runner April Balsley. Liz Thompson would walk and after a strikeout, Jennifer Neumann hit into a fielder’s choice. The Owatonna player tried to go home, but Vietze beat the throw to the plate ending the game.

&8220;Shelby had the big hit and when we had the winning run 60 feet away with no outs we were pretty confident we could get the win,&8221; said Albert Lea head coach Chad Feikema.

Dezeray Jacobs got the win pitching all seven innings.

&8220;Dezi stepped up in a big way after not doing much for a week after tweaking her knee,&8221; said Feikema. &8220;She found out 15 minutes before the game she could pitch and she did well.&8221;

Cottrell finished the game going 3-for-3 at the plate while Vietze had a pair of hits.

The Tigers closed the gap to 2-1 in the second game in the bottom of the third but Albert Lea was unable to get any closer.

Alyssa Paulson scored the team’s lone run when she was driven in by Chelsea Barrett.

The Tigers had a chance to possibly tie the game or take the lead putting runners on second and third in the fifth but were unable to advance them.

&8220;We played strong defense in both games and the girls gave great effort,&8221; said Feikema. &8220;I like how we are coming along. We can play good defense and the hitting is picking up.&8221;

Albert Lea finished the doubleheader with 19 total hits.

The Tigers are now 4-9 on the season.