The Albert Lea baseball team hosted Rochester Century in a double header over the weekend, trying to pick itself up out of a recent slump.

The Panthers were too much for the Tigers in the first game, winning 15-2. And despite keeping the second game much closer, the Tigers couldn’t pull out the victory, falling 7-5.

There was little silver lining for Albert Lea to look for in the first game against Century. Senior Parker Andersen started on the mound, pitching three innings and allowing 11 runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out one. Junior Chase Hill came in for relief in the fourth inning and pitched 1.1 innings. Hill allowed four runs on five hits and two walks. Senior Carter Simon finished the game, pitching the final two outs of the game and allowing only two walks.

Senior Brock Hammer picked up two hits and an RBI in the game, while senior Ian Ball and junior Jake Weseman each added one. Weseman also added a run to the total.

It was a much better outing for the Tigers in the second game, only falling to the Panthers by two runs.

Junior Koby Hendrickson started on the mound and pitched 4.1 innings. Hendrickson allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out two. Junior Gavyn Tlamka pitched the rest of the game, allowing zero runs on three hits and two walks in 2.2 innings of work.

Six Tigers notched hits in game two, including Hammer with two hits and a run and Weseman with a hit. Hendrickson and seniors Dalton Larson, Caden Gardner and Carson Goodell each had one hit. Larson scored two runs, while Hendrickson scored one and hit one in.

“This kind of game really makes clear what we must do on the mound to be able to give ourselves the best chance to win,” said head coach Sean Gaston. “We will keep working on being able to throw our off-speed for a strike and move the ball to the corners of the plate. Game two saw our two pitchers really compete their butts off and gives us a chance to win. Offensively, we made some strides and need to continue to have solid approaches.”

The Tigers fall to 6-10 on the season and will be back on the field Tuesday when they compete on the road against the 9-5 Winhawks of Winona.

 

Game 1

Rochester Century 15, Albert Lea 2

Albert Lea pitching: Parker Andersen 3 IP, 11 R, 11 ER, 10 H, 1 K, 3 BB; Chase Hill 1.1 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 BB; Carter Simon .2 IP, 2 BB

Albert Lea batting: Ian Ball 1-3; Jake Weseman 1-1, 1 R; Brock Hammer 2-3, 1 RBI

 

Game 2

Rochester Century 7, Albert Lea 5

Albert Lea pitching: Koby Hendrickson 4.1 IP, 7 R, 5 ER, 9 H, 2 K, 2 BB; Gavyn Tlamka 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 K, 2 BB

Albert Lea batting: Brock Hammer 2-4, 1 R; Dalton Larson 1-3, 2 R; Koby Hendrickson 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 R; Jake Weseman 1-3; Caden Gardner 1-1; Carson Goodell 1-2