Tigers’ Villarreal is 1 of 22 All-Conference softball players

The Albert Lea softball team lost 8-3 to Winona Friday at the Big Nine Conference tournament in Mankato to take sixth place.

When the two teams met earlier this season, Winona won 2-0.

Albert Lea head coach Dan Harms said he was happy to see his team make more contact with the ball in the rematch.

“Last time, we struck out 14 times, and today we struck out only three times,” he said. “We just didn’t get the timely hits we needed to win.”

The Tigers led 2-1 after the first inning with a two-RBI double by Lynzee Underdahl, but Winona knotted the score at two in the second.

In the sixth inning, Underdahl scored a run when Lindsay Reim was walked with the bases loaded. Winona scored four runs in the sixth and added two more in the seventh to secure the win.

Haley Harms led Albert Lea by striking out two batters in seven innings.

Albert Lea catcher Dominique Villarreal was was one of 22 players selected to the All-Conference team at the conclusion of the game.