MARSHALL — A sixth-inning rally was too little, too late for the Fairmont Cardinals baseball team during Thursday night’s Section 3AA elimination game.

The New London-Spicer Wildcats scratched out a 4-3 playoff victory over Fairmont at American Legion Field in Marshall.

The Cardinals close out their season with a 12-10 overall record.

New London-Spicer advances to face Pipestone Area in a 2 p.m. elimination game on Saturday back in Marshall. The Arrows eliminated Minnewaska Area, 3-1, in eight innings to stay alive in the postseason.

Down 4-1 entering the top of the sixth inning, Lance Becker started a rally for Fairmont. Becker hit a line drive, which dropped just in front of the diving Wildcat right fielder and rolled past him, allowing Becker to reach second base.

Nick Eversman followed by dropping a single into shallow left field to allow Becker to reach third. With runners on the corners, Brady Allen drove a ball to center for a sacrifice fly to bring Fairmont within two.

Collin Steuber followed suit by dropping a single into shallow right field to put runners on first and second with one out, and Jacob Tennyson took a walk to load the bases.

After a strikeout, Jordan Wolter was hit by a pitch to bring in the second run of the inning, and what would be the final run of Fairmont’s season.

Cardinal co-head coach Don Waletich said though they lost, he was proud of his team’s performance and the way they have fought all season.

“It was a good baseball game,” Waletich said. “We faced one of the best pitchers we did all year and we hung around and gave ourselves a chance to win in the end, and we almost did. Their outfielders made some plays, a few inches here or there and it’s our ballgame. I’m very proud of our team for the way we battled through the whole game, our whole season. We battle very well and our seniors really laid it on the line tonight.”

Fairmont started the game strong, scoring a run in the first inning when a leadoff walk came around to score after a groundout, a pop out and a dropped third strike where Becker reached first, beating the throw by a half-step. When the Wildcat catcher threw to first, Wolter took off for home and made it easily.

But NLS responded in kind in the bottom of the first. A leadoff single turned into a run after a stolen base, a groundout and a sacrifice fly sent deep to center field.

The Wildcats added on in the bottom of the second, again beginning with a leadoff hit. Another single came around the bases after an infield hit and a third single. NLS was threatening for more, but a 4-3 double play ended the inning.

The Wildcats scored what proved to be important insurance runs in the fourth when a hit, two walks and a groundout added two runs to the scoreboard.

Allen started the game on the mound for Fairmont, pitching three-plus innings, giving up two runs on five hits and one hit batter.

Jack Hested came in midway through the fourth and his sweeping breaking ball proved tough for the Wildcat bats. With runners on first and third, NLS attempted a delayed double-steal, but Fairmont played it perfectly and a rundown between third and home ended with catcher Zac Ringnell diving to tag the runner for the final out.

After the game, Waletich and co-head coach Jerry Brooks spent time talking to the team. Brooks said they told the players to focus on what’s ahead of them, not what’s behind.

“We told them that we had a lot of fun and we hope they had just as much fun as we did,” Brooks said. “We appreciated what the senior leadership did for us all year long. Now, we wish them success as they go forward in life. We told them that this is not what you want to make of yourself, thinking back all the time. This is just something fun that you did, but where you’re going now, what you do after this, that’s what is going to determine who you are. Don’t make this who you are, go do something great with your life now.”

FHS 100 002 0 — 3 4 2

NLS 110 200 x — 4 8 2

Brady Allen (LP), Jack Hested (4), Collin Steuber (6) and Zac Ringnell. Will Roguske (WP), Trent Pientka (6) and Derek Dolezal.

LOB–Fairmont 8, New London-Spicer 6. 2B–Lance Becker (F), Mitchell Kruger (NLS). SF–Brady Allen (F), Will Roguske (NLS).