With their biggest game of the season looming, the Albert Lea Tigers baseball team wasn’t focused Friday on the task at hand.

It nearly cost them.

The Tigers fell behind 6-0 in the third inning to the struggling New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale

Geneva Panthers but scored four unanswered runs to pull within two entering the bottom of the seventh.

Two outs away from a stunning loss, a trio of Tigers sophomores scattered singles into the outfield to tie the game, and J.T. Bellrichard laid down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt for the game-winning RBI.

The come-from-behind win gave the Tigers momentum heading into Monday’s matchup with Rochester John Marshall, who they sit a half game ahead of in the Big Nine Conference standings.

“We just weren’t into this game,” Tigers coach Joe Sczublewski said. “Mentally we were looking forward to the big game on Monday and that’s when you get in trouble.”

Trailing 6-4, senior Josh Eisenbraun struck out swinging to open the bottom of the seventh inning. With Dylan SeeRockers up next, a sophomore who’s 0-for-2 this season at the plate, a rally seemed unlikely, but the reserve outfielder laced a single to right field on a 3-2 count and drew the game-tying run to the plate.

Sophomore Ethan Abben singled to left, moving SeeRockers to second base, and Sczublewski called for a double steal which put two runners into scoring position.

Makael Lunning continued the best offense week of his career by slugging a two-run single to center field and advanced to second base on the relay throw home. Lunning alertly moved to third when a pitch from the Panthers’ Brad Claycomb got away from the catcher and reached the backstop and scored on a suicide squeeze bunt from Bellrichard.

“We were able to overcome a slow start,” Sczublewski said. “Those three sophomores did a fine job, and J.T. executed a nice bunt. But we were fortunate to come out with a victory.”

Through the first three innings, the Panthers were able to do what the Tigers couldn’t — get timely hits and play stout defense.

The Panthers scored three runs in the first and one in second while the Tigers filled the bases but to no avail.

In the bottom of the second, the Tigers drew two walks but Eisenbraun was picked off at third base and

Lunning struck out to end the inning.

In the third, the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs after Bellrichard and Conner Kortan walked, and Cory Hansen was hit by a pitch. Aaron Klatt then grounded into a fielder’s choice with Bellrichard forced out at home before Cole Sorenson drove in the Tigers’ first run on an infield single to third base. With the bases still full, Eisenbraun fouled out to first base and Henry Fleek grounded out.

The fourth inning mirrored the third as Klatt again batted with the bases loaded after Lunning singled to left and Kortan and Hansen walked. With two outs this time, Klatt hit a grounder to third base and reached first on an error, scoring Lunning. Sorenson then singled to center field, scoring Kortan and Hansen, before Eisenbraun flew out to end the inning.

Tigers’ starting pitcher Cody Haaland was knocked out in the third inning after being tagged for five runs.

The Panthers’ Chad Schlaak reached first base to open the third on a throwing error by Klatt at shortstop and moved to second on a balk from Haaland. With one out, Cody Kraay hit a hanging curveball to right field, scoring Schlaak, and Haaland was lifted for Abben.

Abben allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings, and Sorenson threw the final two innings.

“Abben did a nice job of holding us in there, and when Sorenson came into pitch it kind of picked us up at that point,” Sczublewski said.

Lunning finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs and continued to make good contact after hitting two home runs Tuesday at Mankato East.

“He is really becoming a solid ballplayer for us,” Sczublewski said. “He’s really coming on.”

Sczublewski called Friday’s win a “wake-up call” as the Tigers’ quest for a Big Nine Conference title reaches its climax Monday against Rochester John Marshall. The Rockets were swept Thursday in a doubleheader by Rochester Century and both teams are tied for second place. The Tigers lost to the Rockets 6-1 on May 12 at Hayek Field.

The Panthers have now lost nine of 10 games after starting the season 4-2. They host Alden-Conger Monday in the first round of the Section 2A tournament. The winner will play Thursday at United South Central.

Albert Lea 7, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 6

NRHEG 312 000 0 — 6 11 3

AL 001 300 3 — 7 6 3

WP — Cole Sorenson 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

LP — Brad Claycomb 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

NRHEG hitting: David Lassahn 3-3, 2 R, BB; Chad Schlaak 2-4, R; Eric Sorenson 1-3; Cody Kraay 1-2, R; Mitch Akemann 1-4; Jake Staloch 1-3, Sam Lundberg 1-4, R; Lucas Meyer 1-3, R.

Albert Lea hitting: Cole Sorenson 2-4, 3 RBI; Makael Lunning 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI; Ethan Abben 1-2, R; Dylan SeeRockers 1-1, R; J.T. Bellrichard 0-2, R, RBI.

Albert Lea 7, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 6

NRHEG 312 000 0 — 6 11 3

AL 001 300 3 — 7 6 3

WP — Cole Sorenson 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

LP — Brad Claycomb 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

NRHEG hitting: David Lassahn 3-3, 2 R, BB; Chad Schlaak 2-4, R; Eric Sorenson 1-3; Cody Kraay 1-2, R; Mitch Akemann 1-4; Jake Staloch 1-3, Sam Lundberg 1-4, R; Lucas Meyer 1-3, R.

Albert Lea hitting: Cole Sorenson 2-4, 3 RBI; Makael Lunning 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI; Ethan Abben 1-2, R; Dylan SeeRockers 1-1, R; J.T. Bellrichard 0-2, R, RBI.