ROCHESTER – Coach Joe Sczublewski knew it wasn’t going to get any easier for the Albert Lea High School baseball team.

But he didn’t think it would get tougher.

Sczublewski’s Tigers, shut out by No. 7 rated Rochester Century’s ace a day earlier, returned to Rochester Monday and were blanked 7-0 by Mayo’s top pitcher.

“We’ve ran into some good pitching and our bats have reflected it,” said Sczublewski, whose team fell to 1-2 in the Big Nine and 1-3 overall. “It doesn’t get easy, not against those Rochester teams. But it’s the last time we have to go to Rochester this year.”

That’s a relief for the Tigers, who were held to two hits on Tuesday after getting only three Monday.

Senior Justin Sokol, a big right-hander who was also the Spartans’ ace last year, struck out nine Tigers and walked only one.

Albert Lea’s first hit was a two-out infield single in the sixth inning by Scott Hoeg. Isaac Walton reached on an infield single in the seventh. The Spartans played errorless defense.

Junior Derek Goodnature made his first varsity start on the mound for the Tigers and pitched very well through three innings before tiring in the fourth. He gave up two earned runs on four hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.

Adam Highum worked his way out of a bases-loaded situation in the fourth and pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, giving up two hits and no runs. Joel Hestness struggled in the sixth, allowing four earned runs.

The Tigers have another quality opponent Thursday, when they host returning section runner-up Mankato East at 5 p.m. at Hayek Field.