There wasn’t much life to the Albert Lea offense Thursday against Rochester Mayo in an 8-3 loss to the Spartans in an 8-3 loss in Rochester.

The Tigers (9-4, 8-4 Big Nine) tallied just two hits and weren’t able to get on the board until the fifth inning when Jordan Mondeel drove in a run on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.

“We couldn’t get it started tonight,” said Albert Lea head coach Joe Sczublewski. “Too many Ks in the early part of the game.”

Albert Lea struggled against Mayo starter Aaron Aaland much of the night. Aaland struggled with his control, walking five batters, but struck out nine in the victory.

The Spartans delivered a big blow in the third inning with two outs when Charlie Hinsch unloaded on a 3-2 delivery from starter Aaron Klatt for a three-run homer that gave Mayo a 4-0 lead.

The Spartans (9-4, 8-4 Big Nine) added a run in the fourth and three in the fifth as they pulled even with Albert Lea for third place in the conference and made up for a 7-4 loss to the Tigers nearly two weeks ago.

Albert Lea added two runs in the sixth on an RBI double from Klatt and an RBI single from Connor Kortan.

The eight runs marked the most given up by the Tigers this season and was a departure from the solid pitching they have had throughout much of the season.

Any momentum the Tigers had gained from a doubleheader sweep of previously-undefeated Mankato West was likely lost and now are faced with the difficult task of taking on Big Nine leader John Marshall Saturday in an important contest for Albert Lea to keep pace with the conference leaders.

Mayo 8, Albert Lea 3

Albert Lea 000 012 0 — 3 2 2

Mayo 103 130 x — 8 10 2

WP — Aaron Aaland 7 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 9 K

LP — Aaron Klatt 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K