A lack of clutch hits put an end to Austin’s season in a 3-1 loss to Faribault in a Section 1AAA elimination softball game in Todd Park Tuesday.

The third-seeded Packers (11-12 overall) stranded runners on first and second in the seventh inning as Kaycee Lukes and Sara Sundberg each popped out to end the game. The team also had a couple off missed opportunities earlier in the game.

“We had a lot of opportunities, but we lined it at them a couple of times. A lot of hard hits but they were in the right place to make the plays for them,” Austin head coach Steve Knox said.

Austin had a threat in the fifth inning when Brandi Ruroden, who went 2-of-3, and Kaycee Lukes each singled with one out but Sundberg grounded out and Tana Lukes lined out to left field.

“I was hoping it would go, but it didn’t,” Tana Lukes said. “We just didn’t key hits today.”

In the third inning, Sundberg hit a double to score Ashley Crump and make it 3-1, but Sundberg was stranded at third when Tana Lukes grounded out.

Knox said his team was almost to aggressive in the loss as they swung at a lot of first pitches.

“We were trying to hit the one that was gonna be a strike and not waiting for junk to swing at is my guess,” he said.

Austin came out a little shaky as the ninth-seeded Falcons (6-14 overall) scored three runs in the first two innings. Dani Skluzacek had a run-scoring single and Krista Bjoraker had an RBI-single for Faribault off of Austin’s Autumn Jurgensen.

Austin swept the regular season series against Faribault including a 3-2 win against Stacy Lehman, who pitched Tuesday.

“We saw her for the last win, but we couldn’t get it going against her today,” Tana Lukes said.

Austin had seven seniors — Tana Lukes, Amanda Adams, Jessica Neumann, Brittany Hoban, Jurgensen, Maggie Jorgenson, and Abby Hovland — take part in their last softball game for the Packers.

“Those young ladies are all team players,” Knox said. “They’ve all been good contributors, good leaders and hard workers.”

Austin pitching: Autumn Jurgensen (L), 6 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 4 K

Austin hitting: Sara Sundberg, 1-of-3, double, RBI; Tana Lukes, 0-of-3; Emma Arboe, 0-of-3; Brittany Hoban, 0-of-3; Jolene Brody, 1-of-3, SB; Autumn Jurgensen, 0-of-3; Ashley Crump, 2-of-3; Brandi Ruroden, 2-of-3; Kaycee Lukes, 1-of-3

Faribault pitching: Stacy Lehman, 7 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 K

Faribault hitting: Dani Skluzacek, 2-of-4, RBI; Erin Kastner, 1-of-3; Jamie Cross, 0-of-2, BB; Krista Bjoraker, 2-of-3, double, RBI; Kailen Aspelund, 1-of-3; Caitlin Bonde, 0-of-3; Katie Kaderlik, 1-of-3; Jenna Peanasky, 0-of-3; Jenna Henry, 1-of-3, double