The Albert Lea softball team shut out Mankato West in the third and fourth innings on Tuesday, but the Scarlets scored in bunches in the first, second and fifth.

The Tigers lost their fourth of five Big Nine Conference games 14-3 at Mankato West.

Albert Lea coach Dan Harms hopes to see more passion from his players. He said he knows they have it because he’s seen it earlier this season.

“We’ve got to play with more fire and energy and more urgency,” he said. “We showed some in the first few innings against John Marshall. We can’t be nonchalant.”

The Scarlets took a four-run lead in the bottom of the first inning and added four more runs in the second to take an 8-1 lead. Errors cost the Tigers all four runs in the second.

“We’ve got to clean that stuff up,” coach Harms said. “The competition is too good. We need to stay within ourselves and play our game.”

The Tigers cut their deficit to five runs in the top of the fourth and held Mankato West scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

However, after Mankato West held Albert Lea scoreless in the top of the fifth, the Scarlets scored six runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Haley Harms led the Tigers from the pitching circle. She struck out one batter and allowed 13 hits and three walks. Mankato West’s Bre Black struck out six batters, gave up five hits and didn’t allow a base on balls.

Alexa Wood and Kassi Hardies led Albert Lea at the plate. Both players were 2-for-2. Wood hit a double and drove in two runs. Hardies scored a run and had one RBI.

The Scarlets (7-0 overall, 4-0 Big Nine Conference) are the defending conference champions and are No. 1 in the conference standings.

“They’re the best team in the Big Nine,” coach Harms said. “They’ve always had a good softball team, and they probably will for years to come.”

Albert Lea (2-5 overall, 1-4 Big Nine Conference) is seventh in the 10-team conference. Next, the Tigers will play at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Mankato East. After starting the season 0-2, the Cougars won their last two games.

Statistics are in the Scoreboard: April 22 post.