Three consecutive strikeouts in the seventh inning capped a win for the Albert Lea Legion Post 56 baseball team in its last home game of the regular season.

Albert Lea (9-6 overall) scored six runs in the fourth inning to spur a 10-1 win against Waseca Thursday at Hayek Field.

“I think we’re starting to come together,” said Albert Lea center fielder Makael Lunning. “We’re hitting the ball and fielding the ball the way we should.”

Along with a strong pitching performance from its bullpen, Post 56 produced 11 hits and held Waseca to five.

“Tonight, it was about hitting the ball,” said Albert Lea coach Jay Enderson. “We hit the ball well, and everybody scored a run. It was a good night for that.”

The Parkers led Albert Lea at the plate. Parker Boyum posted a team-high three hits, including a double. He also had two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base. Parker Mullenbach was 2-for-4 and had a double, a run scored and a team-high three RBIs.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning. A grounder up the middle by Mullenbach scored Mason Hammer, but Waseca tied the game in the top of the fourth and threatened to take the lead with the bases loaded and only one out.

Lunning took the mound in relief of Tristin Muilenburg and struck out the first batter he faced. Against Waseca’s next batter, Albert Lea catcher Chris Enderson snagged a pop-up in foul territory to end the inning.

“I was just doing what I could to get out of the inning,” Lunning said. “I was a little a little bit rusty, but it felt good to throw again.”

Lunning normally plays center field, and Coach Enderson said Lunning hadn’t pitched since he played for the Albert Lea High School team over a year ago.

In the bottom of the fourth, Albert Lea broke the game open with six runs.

The fireworks started with a double down the third-base line by Boyum. A single by Enderson put runners at the corners. A bloop single to left field by Tanner Bellrichard scored Boyum, and Kole Smith loaded the bases with one out.

E.J. Thomas followed with a two-RBI double, and Mullenbach added a two-RBI triple. A sacrifice by Johnathan Fleek scored Mullenbach and gave Albert Lea a 7-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Waseca threatened with runners on the corners, but a grab by Bellrichard in right field ended the inning.

Albert Lea added one run in the fifth on a line drive by Enderson that scored Lunning after he reached base on a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout by Boyum.

Post 56 scored its last two runs in the sixth on a double by Boyum that drove in Fleek and Paulsen.

In the top of the seventh, Fleek entered the game as a closer and struck out three batters with 10 pitches.

“Henry (Fleek) hadn’t pitched in a long time,” coach Enderson said. “We just wanted to get him in because he had a bad taste in his mouth from the game against Rochester Mayo (the A’s).”

Albert Lea has two regular-season games left with a doubleheader at Faribault at 5 p.m. Monday.

“We win those games, and we’re set up for a playoff game at home,” coach Enderson said. “If we don’t, then we’ll be at the mercy of everybody else.”

A full story with statistics in the Scoreboard: July 10 post will follow.