The Austin Greyhounds continue to stagger toward the end of the season. Their wheezing offense couldn't hold off the Waseca Braves Sunday, as the 'Hounds dropped a 4-0 decision in 10 innings at Marcusen Park.

"We need to get out of this funk we're in," said Austin player/manager John Frein. "We had our chances, we just couldn't seal the deal.

"About the only thing we haven't tried yet (to break the slump) is sacrificing an animal."

The 'Hounds had just one hit over the last nine innings after a pair of two-out singles in the first from Craig Selk and Tate Cummins.

They still had two excellent opportunities in the game. The first chance came in the fifth, when Waseca starter Chris Case loaded the bases with one out on a couple of walks and a hit batsman. Braves manager Tink Larson then brought in Justin Deering, who got Grant Lunning to ground into a force at home and struck out Craig Selk to end the inning.

Austin almost snuck out a win in the bottom of the ninth. Tim Kaplan led off with a walk and was bunted to second by Jamie Morrison. Deering then hit Bryan Toov and wild-pitched both runners into scoring position with two outs. Mitch Mullenbach worked the count full before striking out, but the ball got away from the catcher. Pinch-runner Nick Dolan was tagged out at the plate though to send it into extra frames.

Austin starter Matt Raso held Waseca scoreless through the first nine innings by wriggling out of two jams to lead off innings. He stranded Brandon LaRue after his double to start the fifth and kept Deering from after he began the seventh by reaching third on a single and a two-base throwing error by Selk.

"You can't expect him to do more than he did," said Frein of Raso's efforts.

But things fell apart for him in the 10th. Quinn Hammond led off with a solo home run, and the Braves piled on five consecutive singles to take a 4-0 lead.

That brought on Toov for his first pitching appearance of the year. He induced a double play to end the frame. Deering threw 5 2/3 innings of hitless ball in relief of Case to earn the win.

Austin also suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Rochester Royals on Saturday night. Joe Duda started off the third inning with a solo home run, and Shawn Leimbek followed that up with a back-breaking two-run shot.

Randall Chase threw seven shutout innings to pick up the win for the Royals. Scott Meyer took the loss for the 'Hounds, giving up four earned runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. Dolan came on to pitch a perfect eighth.

The 'Hounds are now 17-19 and 4-5 in Southern Minny League play. They wrap up the regular season Wednesday in a rescheduled game against the Owatonna Aces. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Marcusen Park.

Line Scores:

Saturday

Austin--050

Rochester--470

WP--Chase.LP--Meyer (8-5).

2B--AUS:Frein; ROC:Duda.HR--Leimbek.

Sunday

Waseca0000000004--4120

Austin0000000000--030

Chris Case, Justin Deering (5), and Brandon LaRue; Matt Raso, Bryan Toov (10), and Andy

Swank.

WP--Deering.LP--Raso (2-4).

2B--WAS:Quickstad, LaRue.HR--WAS:Hammond.SB--AUS:Mullenbach.