There’s no doubt that the Austin Post 91 Legion baseball team is young this season and there’s no doubt that they’ve had their struggles at the plate this season.

Austin showed that it’s still too early to count them out as it tallied 13 hits in a 10-3 win over Stewartville in Dick Seltz Field Tuesday.

Stewartville (15-3 overall) tied the game up at 3-3 in the top of the fourth, but Austin (6-18 overall) had a response as Steven Clennon lined a single to center in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-3 and Austin led the rest of the way. Post 91 scored two more runs in the frame on a two-out throwing error and Gabe Kasak, who went 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs singled in a run to make it 7-3.

“We’ve had trouble with the bats all season and to get seven hits in two innings feels great. We’ve gotten less than that in tournaments before,” Clennon, who will be a junior this fall, said. “I’m starting to feel more comfortable. At the beginning of the year I was shaky, but I’m catching up. We’re aware (of our youth) but we don’t want to use that as a handicap.”

Austin got a boost on the mound from one of its younger players as Nik Gasner, who will be a sophomore in the fall, struck out six and allowed just one run in relief to pick up the win. Gasner came in the game in the top of the third with the bases loaded and one out and he forced Brady Grace to ground into an inning ending double play.

“I try to make the most of it every time I get out there,” Gasner said. “I kind of like the pressure of coming in during a tough bases loaded situation. That boosted the whole game for me and I knew I had good defense behind me.”

Gasner also doubled in a run with two outs in the first inning to get Austin on the board. He said he’s learned a lot while playing with and against older players this summer.

“Getting more experience has helped me a lot,” he said. “We’re playing against older guys and we’re playing against college players, this will make me a better player hopefully. The more young guys we get out here, the better experience we get and the better we’ll be when we get older.”

While the youngsters were gaining experience, Jordan Lysne was making what will likely be his last pitching appearance in a Legion uniform. Lysne pitched through the first two innings in blistering heat and he held Stewartville to just one earned run.

“I just wanted to go a couple of innings,” Lysne said. “Eventually my sleeve was so soaked that it added another five pounds to my arm and it was tough to throw strikes. It was nice to see the bats get going and this was a big win.”

Austin will close its regular season when it hosts Albert Lea this Friday at 5 p.m. at Dick Seltz Field. Post 91 will likely begin the playoffs next Tuesday as the bottom seed in the First District.

Austin head coach Bob Stratton said the main cause for his team’s struggles have been hitting, but the team has improved in other areas.

“We’ve shored up our defense and our pitching hasn’t been bad. That’s a pretty good silver lining,” Stratton said.

Stewartville 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 — 3 9 4

Austin 1 0 1 1 4 3 X — 10 13 2

Austin pitching: Jordan Lysne, 2 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 K; Nik Gasner (W), 4 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 6 K

Austin hitting: Ethan Hortsmann, 0-for-4, BB; Gabe Kasak, 3-for-3, 2 RBIs, SB; Marcus Stoulil, 0-for-4, R; Nik Gasner, 1-for-2, double, RBI, 2 R, SB, HBP; Zach Huntley, 2-for-2, R, BB, HBP; Steven Clennon, 2-for-4, RBI; Lysne, 0-for-1; Jacob Kempen, 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB; Luke Mallory, 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R; Isaac Schumacher, 2-for-3, double, RBI, 2 R; Joe Raso, 0-for-1, R