The regular season ended on a high note for the Albert Lea softball team.

The Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak by sweeping a doubleheader Friday at Faribault.

Albert Lea won 12-1 in Game 1 with the 10-run mercy rule in the fifth inning. Game 2 was a different story. The Tigers slipped past the Falcons 4-2 after rallying from a one-run deficit to tie the game in the seventh to force an extra inning.

“We played with a lot of heart,” said Albert Lea coach Dan Harms about the Game 2 comeback. “A lot of pride was taking over. Those girls were not about to lose.”

In Game 1, Albert Lea used a seven-run third inning to coast to victory. Haley Harms led the Tigers from the pitching circle and was one of four Tigers to produce multiple hits.

In Game 2, Albert Lea took a one-run lead, but Faribault fought back with two unanswered runs. In the top of the seventh, the Tigers trailed 2-1.

Albert Lea tied the game with a safety squeeze on a bunt by Taylor Thompson to score Megan Kortan.

“It was looking pretty bleak because we just went down 1-2-3 in order in the top of the sixth,” coach Harms said. “There was a little relief when we tied it up to go to the eighth.”

Haley Schroader drove in the winning runs in the top of the eighth after Kassi Hardies and Lindsay Reim reached base.

Faribault’s comeback attempt was thwarted with a double play in the bottom of the inning. Coach Harms said the Falcons had runners on first and second when Caycee Gilbertson fielded the ball at third, stepped on the bag for the force and hurled the ball to Hardies at first base for the final out.

“We needed to get back on track, and the drive they showed coming back is what we need going into sections at Waseca,” coach Harms said.

Next, Albert Lea (9-11 overall, 8-9 Big Nine Conference) will play in the first round of the Section 2AA tournament at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Waseca (6-6 overall, 2-4 South Central Conference).

The Tigers are the No. 5 seed, and the Blue Jays are the No. 4 seed. The winner will play the winner of No. 1-seed NRHEG and No. 8-seed Blue Earth in the quarterfinals.

Statistics are in the Scoreboard: May 16 post.