The Austin baseball team picked up its first win of the season and then it bounced back from an early hole to get its first Big Nine win of the season in Seltz Field Saturday. The Packers beat Hibbing 7-4 playing mostly back-ups and they topped Mankato East 10-6 in the nightcap.

The Cougars (1-3 overall, 1-2 Big Nine) loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first, but they scored just to runs in that frame due to a double play turned by the Austin infield. The Packers (2-2 overall, 1-2 Big Nine) responded with a slug-fest in the second and third innings.

In the second, Jackob Crouch doubled in a run and Nate Conner knocked in two more runs with a two-out double to put Austin up 4-2. In the third, Stoulil and Crouch doubled in runs as the Packers pushed their lead to 7-2.

“We didn’t let getting down 2-0 stop us,” Austin head coach Chris Gogolewski said. “We had double digit hits and we had guys in scoring positon. We went to the plate with an approach. We focused on hitting the ball to center and right and we had great selflessness at the plate.”

Much of Austin’s lineup had struggled in its first two games as the Packers scored just four runs in their first 14 innings of the season, but Austin exploded for 13 hits and 10 runs against the Cougars.

Alex Ciola picked up the mound win and he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

“Everyone came up with a good approach and the hitting was real good compared to the last couple of games,” he said. “In the first two games were a little nervous, but we won two games today and it’s good to get going.”

Jason Stoulil went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI and he came through on the mound as well as he pitched three innings and allowed just one run. Stoulil hadn’t pitched much before this season, but he was able to find success by throwing strikes.

“We found a lineup that’s energetic and we can play defense and hit the ball. It was nice to get a win,” Stoulil said. “We don’t have a lot of arms for pitching. We’re not going to shut people down, but I throw where I can and we can play defense no matter who’s on the mound.”

Austin’s Jack Dankert picked up the pitching win against Hibbing.

East 2 0 0 0 3 1 0 – 6 11 3

Austin 0 4 3 1 0 2 X – 10 13 1

Austin pitching: Alex Ciola (W) 7 4 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 ER, 1 K, 1 HBP; Jason Stoulil, 3 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K

Austin hitting: Nate Conner, 2-for-4, double, triple, 2 RBIs, R; Ciola, 3-for-4, 2 RBIs; Dylan Gasner, 1-for-3, R, BB; Phillip Zynda, 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R, BB; Stoulil, 2-for-4, double, RBI, 2 R; Ryan McCormack, 0-for-3, 2 RBIs; R; Jakob Crouch, 2-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, R; Evan McAlister, 0-for-1, BB; Jack Dankert, 1-for-3, R