Tigers outscore Owatonna 5-0 in 7th inning to win opener

The Albert Lea softball team saved the best for last.

In the final inning of a game that was tied at two, the Tigers came alive at the plate.

Kassi Hardies stepped into the batter’s box with no outs and the bases loaded. Haley Harms, Megan Kortan and Lynzee Underdahl each got on base earlier in the seventh by playing small ball.

Hardies seized the moment and hit a grand slam, said Albert Lea coach Dan Harms.

“She came up to bat and just jacked one to center field and over the fence,” he said.

The shot gave the Tigers a 6-2 lead, and after the Huskies managed to get two outs, it was Haley Schroader’s turn.

She hit a home run over the fence in right center field, and Albert Lea’s lead expanded to five runs. In Schroader’s final stat line, she was two for three with one run, two RBIs, one home run and a walk.

Harms held Owatonna’s batters at bay in the bottom of the seventh, and the Tigers won 7-2 on Thursday.

“The girls started off the season on a positive note,” coach Harms said. “No one struck out, and we played very good defense.”

Haley Harms pitched the entire game and faced 26 batters. She struck out seven, walked two and gave up one earned run.

Last season, Owatonna finished 11-7 and edged Albert Lea 2-1 at home.

“They beat us last year, and the girls were looking for a little revenge,” coach Harms said.

The Tigers returned their entire lineup except graduated senior catcher Dominique Villarreal. However, coach Harms said Veronica Silva performed well behind the plate.

Next, the Tigers (1-0 overall, 1-0 Big Nine Conference) will play a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Monday at Faribault.