According to coach Rick Harves, the members of the Albert Lea High School softball team are tired of coming close.

They’re ready for a win.

The Tigers lost yet another tough one Thursday, falling 6-3 to Mankato East on a cold, windy day at Hammer Field. It dropped Albert Lea’s record to 1-10, all in the Big Nine.

The shortfall Thursday was offense. The Tigers had only four hits.

&uot;The girls are improving, but we need to improve our hitting,&uot; said Harves. &uot;The girls were a little down. They want a win.&uot;

Ashley Chrz had Albert Lea’s biggest hit, a third-inning triple that drove in Leah Boyer, who had singled.

The Tigers took advantage of some errors in the fifth, when they scored twice on only one hit, a single by Amber Edwards. Jenny Hovendick had the Tigers’ other hit.

Nicole Rafdal went the distance on the mound for Albert Lea. She walked four and struck out one, giving up three earned runs.

&uot;It was tough conditions to play in again, but the girls came alive in the third inning and played tough the rest of the way,&uot; said Harves. &uot;They played hard and did the best they could. It was a good game.&uot;

The Tigers play today at Rochester Mayo, where Harves is hopeful of a victory.

Mankato East

120

210

0 &045; 6

8

7

Albert Lea

001

020

0 &045; 3

4

7

LP &045; Nicole Rafdal