A four-game winning streak ended for the Albert Lea baseball team against the No. 2 team in the Big Nine Conference standings.

The Tigers produced five hits but gave up 10 in a 12-3 loss Thursday at Mankato West.

Albert Lea led 1-0 in the top of the third inning, but the Scarlets responded with five runs in the bottom of the third and four runs in the fourth.

“We made a few costly errors in the third, and if we play errorless ball, we’re out of that with nothing,” said Tigers coach Joe Sczublewski. “It was the same thing in the fourth. They took advantage of it, and things mushroomed in a hurry.”

Jake Kilby led Albert Lea from the mound through the first four innings. Out of the nine runs scored on his watch, only two were earned. Kilby struck out one batter and gave up six hits and a walk.

“Jakob pitched pretty well,” Sczublewski said. “If we’d have made the plays in the field, we’re in a tight game.”

Mason Hammer led the Tigers from the batter’s box. He was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Jake Thompson, Wyatt Paulsen and Tanner Bellrichard added one hit each.

Next, Albert Lea (5-6, 3-5 Big Nine) will play at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Peter (2-9, 1-8 Big South). The Saints will be the Tigers’ second Subection 2AA South opponent of the season. Albert Lea’s first subsection opponent was Waseca. The Tigers beat the Bluejays 5-4 Monday at Hayek Field.

Five of St. Peter’s last six opponents were ranked in the Class AA polls. Despite the Saints’ losing record, they are coming off a 5-3 win Thursday at No. 13 New Ulm, a team that beat No. 4 Marshall 7-4 in 11 innings on Monday.