Austin is 1-6 against Mankato East since May of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Packers will head out on the road to challenge the Cougars at 5:00 p.m. Austin will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each contest than the last.
Austin lost a heartbreaker the last time they played Faribault, but it's fair to say they got their revenge given the result of Thursday's game. The Packers put the hurt on the Falcons with a sharp 10-4 victory on Thursday. The game was the first time the Packers have beaten the Falcons on their field since May 14, 2018.
Kaydence Schaefer
| 05/08/25 @ Faribault | 2 |
| 05/01/25 @ Albert Lea | 1 |
| 04/29/25 vs Winona | 1 |
Kaydence Schaefer made a splash while hitting and pitching. She struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one triple and one RBI. That triple was her first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Alexis Brede, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one double. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April. Jenna Hetzel was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Mankato East waltzed into their match on Thursday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They never let the Rockets get on the board and left with an 11-0 win. The Cougars might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight contests by six runs or more this season.
Like Austin, Mankato East also got a great game from a two-way player: Kylinn Stangl. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out eight over five innings pitched. Stangl was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, Kenley Staunton was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. She continues to improve, besting her previous run total in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Maddeline Beaty, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
Mankato East lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Austin's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 10-8. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.0 runs over those games. As for Mankato East, their record now sits at 11-1.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Austin hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .327. However, it's not like Mankato East struggles in that department as they've averaged .325. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Austin might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Mankato East in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Packers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
