The extra-inning games aren’t getting any easier for the Albert Lea softball team.

The Tigers (5-7, 1-7) were involved in their third extra-inning game Tuesday, this time against Rochester Century in Albert Lea.

The Tigers had a 6-2 lead heading into the sixth inning, but couldn’t hold off a late charge from the Panthers in a 7-6, eight-inning loss that completed a doubleheader sweep for Century.

“In all three of those games, we’ve made a mistake that maybe could have sealed the deal,” Albert Lea head coach Chad Feikema said. “We’ve got to come up with a way to make that last play and it’s been something different every game.”

Jenica Gerber came around to score on a passed ball in the eighth inning to clinch the comeback victory for the Panthers. It was the second run of the game that Century scored on a passed ball.

The Panthers tied the game in the seventh inning when Breanna Bjerke crossed the plate on a passed ball. Bjerke had reached base on an error.

Lana Howe took the loss, going eight innings allowing seven runs on 10 hits while striking out five.

Despite the loss the Tigers displayed some resiliency after a taking a 16-4 thumping in the first game.

“Had a chance to close the door, up 6 to 2, with just six more outs to get but we weren’t able to get them,” Feikema said.

The first game was marred by mistakes in the field by the Tigers that extended innings for Century.

“I was really disappointed in how we played in the first game,” Feikema said. “I thought the first game was probably our poorest game of the season to this point. I think we had more errors in that game than we have had in the nine games prior because we have typically been pretty solid defensively.”

The Panthers scored six runs in the first inning as they drew four walks, scored on a passed ball while the Tigers committed two errors in the field.

Albert Lea was on the ropes in the fifth after Century extended its lead to 13-3, but rallied for one run in the bottom half of the inning to extend the game to a sixth inning, but that’s as far as the Tigers would get as the Panthers pushed three more across for the win.

Game 1

Century 16, Albert Lea 4, 6 innings

Century 621 043 x — 16 10 2

Albert Lea 201 010 x —  4 9 4

WP — Hannah Kuisle 6 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

LP — Nichelle Klatt 6 IP, 10 H, 16 R, 10 ER, 9 BB, 0 K

Game 2

Century 7, Albert Lea 6, 8 innings

Century 100 102 21 — 7 10 1

Albert Lea 101 400 00 — 6 6 4

WP — Jenessa Johnson 8 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

LP — Lana Howe 8 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K