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Apr. 15—Heavy winds made every fly ball an adventure at Todd Park Tuesday, but the Packer defense has never looked better than it did as the team stayed locked in and focused throughout a 3-2 win over Albert Lea.
The Packers shook off an early error and played defense at a high level throughout the win. Quinn Osgood made an early highlight play when she robbed the Tigers of a hit on a ground ball up the middle and she added two more running grabs on pop flies that were all over the place. Outfielders Adi Cline and Lauren Bowe were also solid in tracking down the ball throughout the day.
"It was honestly really difficult. When you think it's coming right at you, it was flying so much further," Osgood said. "Some of the balls that went straight up and then they went straight back, it was extremely difficult to find the ball. This game was probably one of the most complete games that we've played and that felt really good."
Austin (4-4 overall) extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Jenna Hetzel beat out a two out infield single for an RBI. The Tigers (2-5 overall) pulled to within 3-2 in the top of the sixth, but Austin freshman KJ Schaefer escaped the jam by forcing a two out fly out.
Schaefer didn't allow a hit or a walk in the first three innings.
"(KJ) has worked really hard this season and she's pitched every inning of every game," Austin head coach Lisa Lage said. "For a freshman to do that and come out of some tough losses is great. Also, our defense has to play behind her. She's not going to strike out everyone and when she can be confident that her defense will be there behind her, one or two hits don't bother her as much. We really focused in the last week that games have been too close due to silly errors. I think the wind today forced them to concentrate a little bit more."
Austin put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the first innings as Osgood singled, Schaefer walked and Lexi Brede tripled in a pair of runs.
Brede is starting to find her swing after she missed two games early in the season.
"It was hard at first when I got back," she said. "I was struggling a little bit, but now I'm getting better."
The Packers have already equaled last year's win total and the team is hoping to continue to make strides as the season goes on and the weather warms up.
"We have a lot of underclassmen, but they all have a lot of talent and they've been working hard in the offseason as well," Osgood said. "On this team we all have good vibes and we all vibe together."
AL 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 — 2 5 1
Austin 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 — 3 9 1
Austin pitching: KJ Schaefer (W) 7 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 5 K
Austin hitting: Charlee Cunningham, 1-for-3; Katelynn Klouse, 0-for-3; Quinn Osgood, 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB; Schaefer, 0-for-2, BB; Lexi Brede, 1-for-2, triple, 2 RBIs, BB; Jenna Hetzel, 1-for-3, RBI; Morgan Cass, 1-for-3; Adi Cline, 1-for-3; Lauren Bowe, 1-for-3; Ariel Wiedeman, R
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The Packers shook off an early error and played defense at a high level throughout the win. Quinn Osgood made an early highlight play when she robbed the Tigers of a hit on a ground ball up the middle and she added two more running grabs on pop flies that were all over the place. Outfielders Adi Cline and Lauren Bowe were also solid in tracking down the ball throughout the day.
"It was honestly really difficult. When you think it's coming right at you, it was flying so much further," Osgood said. "Some of the balls that went straight up and then they went straight back, it was extremely difficult to find the ball. This game was probably one of the most complete games that we've played and that felt really good."
Austin (4-4 overall) extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Jenna Hetzel beat out a two out infield single for an RBI. The Tigers (2-5 overall) pulled to within 3-2 in the top of the sixth, but Austin freshman KJ Schaefer escaped the jam by forcing a two out fly out.
Schaefer didn't allow a hit or a walk in the first three innings.
"(KJ) has worked really hard this season and she's pitched every inning of every game," Austin head coach Lisa Lage said. "For a freshman to do that and come out of some tough losses is great. Also, our defense has to play behind her. She's not going to strike out everyone and when she can be confident that her defense will be there behind her, one or two hits don't bother her as much. We really focused in the last week that games have been too close due to silly errors. I think the wind today forced them to concentrate a little bit more."
Austin put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the first innings as Osgood singled, Schaefer walked and Lexi Brede tripled in a pair of runs.
Brede is starting to find her swing after she missed two games early in the season.
"It was hard at first when I got back," she said. "I was struggling a little bit, but now I'm getting better."
The Packers have already equaled last year's win total and the team is hoping to continue to make strides as the season goes on and the weather warms up.
"We have a lot of underclassmen, but they all have a lot of talent and they've been working hard in the offseason as well," Osgood said. "On this team we all have good vibes and we all vibe together."
AL 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 — 2 5 1
Austin 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 — 3 9 1
Austin pitching: KJ Schaefer (W) 7 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 5 K
Austin hitting: Charlee Cunningham, 1-for-3; Katelynn Klouse, 0-for-3; Quinn Osgood, 3-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB; Schaefer, 0-for-2, BB; Lexi Brede, 1-for-2, triple, 2 RBIs, BB; Jenna Hetzel, 1-for-3, RBI; Morgan Cass, 1-for-3; Adi Cline, 1-for-3; Lauren Bowe, 1-for-3; Ariel Wiedeman, R
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