Although the Albert Lea and Red Wing baseball teams were separated by only one hit, the gap on the scoreboard was wider.

“We left a few runners in scoring position,” said Tigers coach Joe Sczublewski. “We need to do a better job of knocking them in.”

Parker Mullenbach led Albert Lea in the batter’s box with three of the team’s seven hits, but five runs in the fourth inning lifted the Wingers over the Tigers 8-2 Wednesday at Hayek Field.

“Mullenbach had a really nice day at the plate,” Sczublewski said. “He’s been hitting the sweet spot of the bat, and he’s been on a roll lately.”

Through the last four games, Mullenbach posted a .500 batting average by going 7-of-14.

Jake Thompson was 2-for-4 at the plate.

“Thompson hit the ball on the nose every time today,” Sczublewski said. “He’s really stinging the ball.”

Wyatt Paulsen and Mason Hammer had one hit each.

On the mound, Tyler Steele took the loss. In the first three innings, he didn’t give up a run, and he ended the third inning with one of his five strikeouts.

However, the Wingers managed five runs in the fourth.

After Jake Kilby took the hill for 1/3 of an inning, Tristin Muilenburg entered the game in relief. Muilenburg had four strikeouts, allowed one walk and didn’t allow a hit.

“Muilenburg did an outstanding job of shutting down an outstanding hitting team,” Sczublewski said.

Next, Albert Lea (8-9, 4-6 Big Nine) will play at Rochester Mayo (9-9, 5-5 Big Nine) at 5 p.m. today. The Spartans haven’t strung together more than two consecutive wins this season. They’re coming off a 3-2 win Tuesday at Faribault in eight innings.

Albert Lea is on a three-game losing streak after winning seven of eight games from April 22 to May 7.