Rochester John Marshall pitcher Chelsee Feuerheim held the Albert Lea softball to two hits as the Rockets clinched a 2-0 victory over the Tigers Wednesday in the opening round of the Section 1AAA playoffs in Rochester.

Sixth-seeded John Marshall and Albert Lea, the 11th seed, split the regular season with the Rockets winning 2-1 in the first meeting and the Tigers winning the last regular season meeting 1-0 with a walk-off base hit in the eighth inning.

“We felt we had a real good draw,” said Albert Lea head coach Dan Harms.

Instead the Tigers struggled to find hits against Feuerheim. Seniors Lauren Klick and Caylee Tennis got the only hits for Albert Lea and Feuerheim did not allow a walk.

“We did not have a lot of fire for whatever reason,” Harms said.

Tigers pitcher Lana Howe gave up two runs, one earned, on three base hits, struck out seven and walked two in the season-ending loss.

Albert Lea graduates seven seniors.

John Marshall 2, Albert Lea 0

Albert Lea 000 000 0 — 0 2 2

John Marshall 101 000 x — 2 3 0

WP—Chelsee Feuerhelm 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R,

0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

LP—Lana Howe 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER,

2 BB, 7 K