The Austin softball team couldn’t find a game-changing rally as it lost to Rochester John Marshall (4-0 overall, 4-0 Big Nine) 7-3 in the dome at Wescott Athletic Complex Thursday.

The Packers (5-3 overall, 3-3 Big Nine) pulled to within 4-3 when Jenna Braaten doubled in a run with two outs in the third inning, but the Rockets scored three runs over the next two frames to pull away. JM scored two runs to go up 7-3 in the top of the fifth on a fielding error by Austin and a bases loaded walk drawn by Grace Freed.

The Rockets started the game strong as Abby Gee hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Austin tied the game up at 2-2 when Hannah McMasters singed in a run and another run scored on a JM error. The Rockets went back up 4-2 in the top of the second when Lexy Anderson singed in a run.

“We did a lot of things well today, but they’re a good team and those are the teams we need to beat,” Austin head coach Al Eckmann said. “We’ve got to get some discipline and we’ve got to get some confidence. We’ve got to keep pushing hard and we need to play people like this.”

McMasters had three of Austin’s eight his on the day. She said the Packers need to keep pushing towards improvements.

“We just have to know that we can hit the ball and we can field really well,” McMasters said.

Austin will host Kasson-Mantorville in the dome at 5 p.m. Monday and the Packers are scheduled to take on Rochester Mayo in a doubleheader Tuesday.

“We’ve got a whole bunch of teams that are going to be a challenge,” Eckmann said. “We’re getting better.”

JM 2 2 0  1 2 0  0  —  7  8  2 

Austin 2 0 1  0 0 0  0  —  3  8  2

Austin pitching: Hannah Rasmussen (L) 7 IP, 8 H, 4 BB, 7 R, 5 ER, 5 K, HBP

Austin hitting: Halie Retterath, 1-for-2, R, 2 BBs; Adison Medgaarden, 2-for-4, R; Jordyn McCormack, 1-for-4; Hannah McMasters, 3-for-4, RBI, R; Kyra Walters, 0-for-3; Jenna Braaten, 1-for-3, double, RBI; AJ Richard, 0-for-3; Hannah Biwer, 0-for-3