Coach Rick Harves knows nobody is committing the errors on purpose, but he also knows they’re making the difference for the Albert Lea High School softball team.

The Tigers lost 9-3 to Rochester Century Tuesday despite outhitting the Panthers 14-13 at Hammer Field. The difference was eight Albert Lea errors.

&uot;We spotted them six runs,&uot; said Harves. &uot;If we hadn’t done that, it would have been a good game. We’ve just got to quit the errors. Nobody’s doing it on purpose, but it’s killing us.&uot;

Five of the Tigers’ errors came in the first two innings as the Panthers plated six runs. In the first, three runs scored after the Tigers failed to catch the ball at first base on a ground ball.

Jenny Hovendick was one of several players to have a big night with the bat, going 3-for-4 with a double. Ashley Helgerson was also 3-for-4, Nicole Rafdal 2-for-3, Ashley Olson 2-for-3 and Leah Boyer 2-for-4. Jerri Mondeel and Amber Edwards each had one hit.

Rafdal pitched what Harves called another strong game. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.

&uot;She does a real nice job,&uot; said Harves. &uot;She’s the strong point of our team right now. The last three innings we played real solid defense, and that’s what we have to build on. Hitting, we’re making good contact. We need to continue that and things should get better.&uot;

The Tigers, 2-10 overall and 1-8 in the Big Nine, host Owatonna at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Rochester Century 9, Albert Lea 3

RC

330

300

0 &045; 9

13

0

AL

000

200

1 &045; 3

14

8

LP &045; Nicole Rafdal