Albert Lea starter Colby Strilaeff got it done on the mound and in the batter’s box Tuesday night against Austin at Marcusen Park in Austin.

Strilaeff turned in seven solid innings as he held Post 91 to three runs on nine hits. He struck out five and walked just two in picking up the win for the Albert Lea American Legion baseball team.

In the fourth inning, Strilaeff, who hit just .143 during the high school season, came through with a big two-run base hit as Post 56 hung four runs on Austin to take a 4-1 lead.

Post 91 struck for two runs in the bottom half of the fourth to climb within one, but Strilaeff shut Austin down for the rest of the game.

“He was in total control,” Albert Lea head coach Jack Kortan said.

Post 56 trailed 1-0 heading into the fourth, but it was finally able to get to Post 91 starter John Kirby.

Anthony Tippett, who hasn’t played since last summer, showed his old form by delivering three singles and driving in two runs.

Logan Kortan added two doubles and an RBI while Jordan Mondeel hit an RBI double in the sixth. J.T. Bellrichard also had an RBI single.

The win evened Albert Lea’s recored at 1-1 following an 8-0 loss to Rochester Century Sunday in Rochester.

Post 56 tallied just four hits in the game and left eight runners on base.

“We hit the ball hard, but couldn’t find a hole,” Kortan said. “They seemed to find a hole, nine hits and all were singles.”

Century scored three runs in the fifth on four hits to take control of the game.

Albert Lea pitchers issued seven walks in the game.

Post 56 will play Austin Thursday at Hayek Field. The game was moved up from July 9.

Albert Lea 7, Austin 3

Albert Lea 000 412 0 — 7 11 0

Austin 001 200 0 — 3 9 3

WP — Colby Strilaeff 7 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

LP — John Kirby 4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K