The Austin baseball team saw two late leads disappear as it lost 7-6 in nine innings to Mankato East (1-1 overall, 1-1 Big Nine) in Mankato Tuesday.

The Cougars scored two runs in the bottom to the ninth to win the game after Austin had taken a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth. The Packers (0-2 overall, 0-2 Big Nine) led 5-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh when East had five straight players reach base to tie things up at 5-5.

“Physically I think we’re doing very well. Mentally has been the part of the game that we need to sharpen up,” Austin head coach Chris Gogolewski said. “At the end it was pretty disappointing, but we talked about how we want to produce defensively so we don’t have to be in this situation again.”

Austin senior Jacob Kempen allowed just four hits and three runs in six and two-thirds of an inning.

“Jacob threw an awesome game and he had them off balanced most of the night,” Gogolewski said.

Austin pitching: Jacob Kempen, 6 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 BBs, 3 R, 2 K; Steven Clennon (L), 2 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 R, 2 K

Austin hitting: Nate Conner, 2-for-4, RBI; Isaac Schumacher, 1-for-3; Nik Gasner, 1-for-3, 2 RBIs; Ethan Horstmann, 2-for-5, RBI; Clennon, 1-for-4; Dylan Gasner, 1-for-4; Shane Johannsen, 1-for-2; Alex Ciola, 2-for-4, double