The Tigers fell just one run short in a battle to the last pitch Thursday night.

The Mankato West baseball team defeated Albert Lea 6-5 Thursday in Mankato. The Scarlets (3-0 overall, 2-0 Big Nine Conference) were ranked seventh in the state in Class AAA baseball as of Thursday, according to Albert Lea coach Joe Sczublewski.

Blake Simon was first on the mound for the Tigers. In his 5 2/3-inning appearance he gave up five runs — three of them earned — on seven hits. The junior also walked five and struck out seven. Senior Parker Mullenbach recorded the loss for Albert Lea, allowing one run on one hit in his single-inning appearance.

“Our defense wasn’t as solid as it was the other night,” Sczublewski said. “That hurt us.”

Senior Jake Kilby led the Tigers’ offense, going 3-4 with two runs scored and a double. Mullenbach, Tanner Bellrichard and Taylor Heavner each scored runs for Albert Lea; and Alex Bledsoe, Simon and Heavner each recorded an RBI.

According to Sczublewski, the Tigers left runners stranded with bases loaded three different times.

“We could’ve put the game away if we had some hits with the bases loaded,” he said. “We had our chances to put them away and we didn’t do it, and that’s what happens when you face a good team.”

Albert Lea (1-1, 1-1) will host NRHEG at 4:30 p.m. today at Hayek Field. The Panthers (0-3, 0-3 Gopher Conference) are coming off of a 6-0 loss to Maple River on Thursday.