Albert lea falls short in Game 1, comes back later to win Game 2

After struggling through their first game in Monday’s doubleheader, the Tigers turned around and dominated in the second.

Taylor Thompson led the Albert Lea softball team’s offense in Game 1 against Northfield Monday at Hammer Field, but the Tigers still fell short after Northfield won 10-5. Thompson got on base three times throughout the game, and singled in both the first and fourth innings. Thompson scored one run of her own, along with teammates Veronica Silva and Hanna Schilling. Dayna Edwards scored two runs.

The Tigers came out strong with an early 1-0 lead in the first. In the second they brought in two runs, which was matched in the fourth inning.

Haley Harms was on the mound in the first game for the Tigers. In the entire seven inning that Harms pitched, she allowed eight hits and nine runs, one of which was earned. She also walked one batter and struck out another, along with giving up one home run.

The Northfield Raiders ended the Tigers’ chances in Game 1 when they scored five runs in the sixth inning on an RBI double, one error, a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly.

According to coach Dan Harms, what really brought down the Tigers in Game 1 was their seven errors.

“Defensively, errors really hurt us in the first game,” he said. “Leaving base runners in scoring positions also hurt us.”

Game 2 in Monday’s doubleheader was a different story.

“We played much better in the second game,” said coach Harms. “We played much better defensively and moved the ball around more.”

The Tigers worked as a team to bring in seven runs in just the first inning of Game 2 in their 9-4 route of Northfield.

Albert Lea scored in the first on a walk by Allison Grandstrand, a groundout by Edwards, a two-run single by Silva, an error and a two-run single by Thompson.

The Tigers managed to score  one run each in both the second and fourth innings. The second inning run was scored on an RBI single by Kassi Hardies that scored Grandstrand.

Northfield managed to score three runs in the top of the third and one more in the seventh.

On the mound for Albert Lea in Game 2 was Schilling. In her seven innings on the mound, Schilling had four runs on five hits, two of which were earned. She walked four, struck out three and gave up one home run.

Next, the Tigers play at 5 p.m. today at Owatonna.