Mankato West turned a two-out spark into a decisive rally in handing the Austin baseball team its fourth straight defeat, 10-5, Tuesday in Mankato.

The host Scarlets guaranteed themselves at least a share of the Big Nine Conference crown with the win, getting five shutout innings from ace starter Adam Sorenson. Sorenson struck out seven, walked two and allowed just one hit.

"He pretty much dominated us," AHS coach Troy Watkins said of Sorenson. "He's a good pitcher and we haven't been very successful against him this year. I'm sure he's a big reason they're on top of our conference right now."

Sorenson threw a complete game in the two teams' first meeting in Austin. On that occasion he struck out 10 and allowed just one hit.

Kyle Rizzi was again his counterpart for the Packer pitching staff, and the end result was the same. Rizzi suffered the loss after giving up eight runs -- seven earned -- in five innings pitched. Paul Leathers tossed one inning of relief.

"They hit the ball well," Watkins added. "That was probably the difference, the maturity and discipline of their hitters."

Austin got it going for five runs in the last two innings against Sorenson's support staff. The Packers tallied three runs against Jared Roberts in the sixth and two more off Taylor Wallace in the seventh.

Andy Swank drove in a pair with a a single in the sixth, and Rizzi plated another with a hit. Joey Kroc's RBI-groundout accounted for the Packers' only other RBI. Nate Johnson, who singled in the seventh, later scored on a wild pitch.

"One positive is we got our bats going a little bit there at the end, and hopefully we can carry that into the sections," Watkins said.

Austin (8-10, 8-8) finishes the regular season Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Rochester's Mayo Field against the host Spartans. Mayo won a 2-0 shutout pitched by Vince Anderson in their first meeting at Marcusen Park.

Linescore:

Austin0000032--564

M.West005032x--10100

Rizzi, Leathers (6) and Edge; Sorenson, Roberts (6), Wallace (7) and Salsbery. WP--Sorenson. LP--Rizzi (2-5).