See-Rockers hits two-run HR, scores the game’s winning run and pitches 8 inn.

The Albert Lea baseball team took down Big Nine Conference rival Austin 6-5 Monday in eight innings.

“It was an exciting come-from-behind win against a good team,” Albert Lea head coach Joe Sczublewski said. “Our kids really battled out there today.”

At the forefront of the action was Albert Lea senior pitcher Dylan See-Rockers: He hit a pivotal two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Tigers their first lead of the game. He beat the throw to home plate to score the game-winning run. He also pitched the entire game and struck out six batters.

Behind the pitcher’s mound, See-Rockers was quick to point out that the rest of the Tigers defense excelled as well.

“Zach (Bordewick) was great from behind the plate, and it was just great defense overall,” See-Rockers said.

Austin was the first to light up the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the third inning.

The Packers extended their lead to three runs in the fourth inning, but a grab by Makael Lunning in deep center field didn’t allow Austin to pad its lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Lunning earned a lead-off single. He advanced to second base after Lucas Hansen was hit in the helmet with a pitch. Next in the order was Derek Burkard. He crushed the ball to deep center field to score Lunning.

The Tigers had one run scored with no outs. Burkard was on second base, and Hansen was on third.

Hansen scored on a sacrifice fly by Wyatt Paulsen, and Burkard tied the game at 3 on a sacrifice fly by Chris Enderson.

Austin came back in the top of the fifth inning to recapture the lead, 4-3, but any attempt to score more runs was thwarted by the fielding of Johnathan Fleek, whose fielding led to a double play.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers repeated what happened in the second inning. The bases were loaded, but Albert Lea was unable to score a run.

However, the Tigers defense held the Packers scoreless in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the the same inning, Enderson earned a lead-off base hit. Albert Lea’s next batter was See-Rockers who crushed the ball deep to left field. The ball hit the foul pole, which gave him a two-run home run.

“It was a fastball up,” See-Rockers said. “I just tried to make contact with it and it got caught in the jet stream.”

Austin tied the game at five in the seventh to force extra innings.

In the eighth inning, Lunning sprinted across center field and made a diving grab for the final out, which preserved the tie.

“He (Lunning) really covered some ground on that one,” See-Rockers said.

“What a spectacular catch,”Sczublewski said. “That’s as nice of a catch as you can get.”

In the bottom of the eighth inning, See Rockers found his way to first base after being hit by a pitch, and he beat the throw to home on a hit by Bordewick.

Game two was suspended in the second inning, after Albert Lea built a 1-0 lead. Albert Lea has a 3-2 overall record this season.

Next, the Tigers play a doubleheader at Owatonna at 4 p.m. Thursday.