The Packer softball team picked up a dramatic win when junior Abbey Ball drilled a walk-off grand slam to beat Winona 6-3 in Todd Park Tuesday.

Ball, who also picked up the win in the circle by striking out six, took a two-out pitch and drove it over the left field fence to lift her team to victory.

“I knew I wanted to hit when I was in the on deck circle,” Ball said. “I just wanted to get a base hit, and I got an inside pitch and turned on it.”

Austin head coach Cindy Owen said she wasn’t expecting the blast from Ball, but was more than willing to take it.

“That was absolutely huge,” Owen said. “I told her to go for a base hit and that she didn’t have to swing for the fences.”

Austin (3-5 overall, 1-4 Big Nine) had lost a pair of games to Albert Lea at home Monday, but Owen said the team looked much sharper on Tuesday.

“We played real well on defense and the kids looked like a good softball team,” Owen said. “We made plays.”

Ball said the Packers were in need of a win and the team responded well, despite trailing 3-1 going into the seventh.

“We really needed this for a confidence builder and the intensity increased throughout the whole game,” she said.

The second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader was canceled due to rain and it will be made up at another time.

Winona 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 — 3 6 2

Austin 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 — 6 6 1

Austin pitching: Abbey Ball (W), 7 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 R, 5 K, 1 HBP

Austin hitting: Ball, 1-for-4, HR, 4 RBIs; Abby Bickler, 1-for-3; Jessie Smith, 1-for-3; Kallie Hart, 1-for-3; Laura Siegfried, 1-for-2; Jaidyn Bastian, 1-for-2