After a 7-0 loss to a tough Rochester Blues team, the Albert Lea Colonels faced a key Southern Minny League contest with the Faribault Lakers.

They responded favorably.

The Colonels, buoyed by a 14-hit attack and another strong pitching performance by Ike Walton, defeated Faribault 7-4 at Hayek Field Sunday, a night after their non-league loss to the Blues.

There was no question which was more important for Albert Lea. Sunday’s win improved the Colonels to 3-6 in the league, nearly ensuring they won’t have to play a one-game playoff to get into the double-elimination league tournament.

&uot;Everyone contributed,&uot; said Albert Lea manager Bill Trygstad, whose club improved to 7-10 overall. &uot;It was nice to see the second inning with six hits. It’s the first time we’ve done that all year, get everybody going with the bats. We gave Ike a little bit of a lead, and he made it stand up for us.&uot;

Faribault scored the only two runs Walton allowed -&045; both unearned &045; in the top of the first.

The Colonels quickly cut it to 2-1 in the bottom half as Derek Goodnature singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by James Gonzalez.

The second inning was long and productive for the Colonels, who plated four runs. Ryan Wangen started it with a single to center field and Aric Attig did the same. One out later, on an 0-2 count, Mick Westeng lined a shot to score Wangen. Matt Trygstad followed with an RBI single and Goodnature got an RBI with an infield single on which Matt Trygstad made a nice base-running play to distract Faribault’s third baseman. Gonzalez then singled to score Trygstad.

It remained 5-2 until the fifth, when Attig reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a wild pitch, Phil Wacholz was safe on an error and scored on a Goodnature single.

Walton was nearly untouchable through seven innings, striking out 12 while giving up four hits and three walks, with one hit batsman.

Craig Smith pitched the final two innings, giving up two earned runs on two hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. He hit one batter, working out of jams both innings as Faribault stranded two in eighth and left the bases loaded in the ninth.

On Saturday, the Colonels were shut out by a team that left town with a 17-6 record. Albert Lea lost despite outhitting Rochester 10-9.

&uot;They’re a good team,&uot; said Bill Trygstad. &uot;We just didn’t get the hits when we needed them.&uot;

Goodnature was 3-for-4, and Matt Trygstad and Jeff Schulz were 2-for-4. Getting one hit apiece were Westeng, Zac Oquist and Anthony Lowman.

Jay Link pitched six innings and took the loss.

The Colonels host New Richland in a rescheduled game Tuesday at 7:30 at Hayek Field. Austin comes to town Thursday for a 7:30 league game.

Blues 7, Colonels 0

R

320

000

111 –

7

9

1

AL

000

000

000 – 0

10

2

LP – Jay Link

Colonels 7, Lakers 4

F

200

000

020 – 4

6

2

AL

140

020

00x – 7

14

3

WP – Isaac Walton

(Contact Jim Lutgens at sports@ albertleatribune.com or 379-3437.)