A leisurely day of practice Monday helped invigorate the Albert Lea softball team Tuesday in a doubleheader with Owatonna at Hammer Field.

The Tigers entered the doubleheader with a nine-game losing streak and the Huskies had a four-game losing streak so someone had to win and late in the first game it looked like Owatonna was going to hand Albert Lea another close loss.

But a day after hitting Whiffle balls in practice the Tigers’ bats continued to produce and led to an 8-6 and 8-2 victory over the Huskies for Albert Lea’s first conference victories of the season.

“Even though it was raining last night we had a easy, leisure practice last night before the doubleheader and they had fun,” said Tigers head coach Dan Harms. “They hit the ball well in practice and then again tonight.”

Albert Lea (3-13-1, 2-11-1 Big Nine) tallied 21 hits in two games and senior Courtney Schnaith helped pace the offense by going 4-for-6 with five RBIs.

The Tigers’ first conference victory didn’t come without its perils. Albert Lea jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead when Schnaith drove in senior Kristine Kelly and junior Amanda Westcott hit a two-run double with two outs.

In the third the Tigers made it 4-0 when senior Caylee Tennis scored on a wild pitch, but Owatonna rallied to take a 6-4 lead in the sixth.

In a spot where Albert Lea has folded several times this season, the Tigers kept their offense going in the bottom of the sixth and scored four runs to win the game.

Kelly knocked in the game-tying run and Schnaith drove in Kelly and senior Lauren Klick with a line drive to the outfield for the game-winning runs.

“It just feels good to be on top of these close ones instead of the bottom,” Harms said.

Albert Lea rolled the momentum of its first conference victory into the second game and jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

Schnaith went 2-for-3 again and drove in three runs while senior Lana Howe threw seven more effective innings.

Howe worked out of jams nearly every inning — she allowed a baserunner in every frame — but gave up just two runs on nine hits and struck out six.

“I just think the focus was better,” Harms said. “We didn’t make unnecessary throws to bases, made all the right plays and I think she was just hungry for a win. I think the whole team was hungry for a win.”

The Tigers face John Marshall Thursday in Albert Lea.

Albert Lea 8, Owatonna 6 Game 1

Owatonna 000 303 0 — 6 9 2

Albert Lea 301 004 x —  8 11 3

WP—Lana Howe 7 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 K

LP—Shanna Thom 6 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Albert Lea 8, Owatonna 2, Game 2

Owatonna 010 010 0 — 2 9 0

Albert Lea 401 102 x — 8 10 2

WP—Lana Howe 7 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER,

3 BB, 6 K

LP—Shanna Thom 2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER,

1 BB, K