FAIRMONT – Sam Schwieger proved a perfect 3-for-3 from the batter’s box, delivered two RBIs and scored once to fuel Fairmont American Legion Post 36’s 5-2 triumph over Sleepy Eye Post 7 during regular-season baseball action Saturday in Fairmont.

Schwieger produced RBI singles to serve as the home team’s offensive catalyst during a two-run bottom of the first inning and three-run third at Herb Wolf Field.

“The key was we were able to bunch together our hits today to put together a couple of big innings early,” said Post 36 mentor Don Waletich. “(Starting pitcher) Clayton (Maakestad) and (reliever) Kale (Fritz) each threw well and held Sleepy Eye in check.”

In fact, Maakestad, who allowed only one run on one hit in three innings of work, and Fritz, who gave up one unearned run on two hits during the final four frames, combined to retire 14 Post 7 batters in a row from the second through the sixth inning.

Parker Monsen and Tyler Tennyson combined offensively to stake Maakestad and Fairmont to an early 1-0 lead during the home half of the first.

Tennyson reached on an error, swiped second base and scampered to third on the overthrow. Monsen then lofted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Tennyson.

Jack Waletich, who went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, smacked a one-out single to right, stole second and circled the bases on Schwieger’s first RBI single to right to double the gap to 2-0.

Monsen then triggered Post 36’s three-run third at-bat by hammering the first of the team’s five hits in the frame.

Monsen motored all the way home on Nate Kallenbach’s towering RBI triple to deep left field before Kallenbach trotted home on Schwieger’s ensuing RBI single to right.

Schwieger moved to second base on Cole Emler’s single to center before wheeling home on Fritz’s run-scoring single to right for a 5-1 lead.

Sleepy Eye scratched out a solo run in the top of the second. Jared Beltz singled, took second on Kyle Windschitl’s ground out, advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch and scored on Sean Salter’s sacrifice fly to right.

Post 7 tallied an unearned run in the sixth on the strength of Alex Woitas’ infield hit, an error on Dylan Klein’s grounder and Jaden Mickelson’s RBI single to right-center.

Fritz struck out one and did not issue a walk in four innings of relief to net the win. Maakestad notched two strikeouts without giving up a base-on-balls in three frames.

Fritz also collected two of Fairmont’s nine hits.

Klein gave up five runs – four earned – on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings of work to take the loss. The right-hander struck out two and walked one.

Sam Tessner fanned four, walked three, hit one batter and allowed one hit in 3 1/3 shutout innings of relief for Post 7.

Fairmont (6-3) and Sleepy Eye (5-11) await the results of Wednesday’s seeding meeting for the upcoming Division I, 2nd District playoff pairings.

SE 010 001 0 – 2 3 2

FMT 203 000 x – 5 9 2

Dylan Klein (LP), Sam Tessmer (3), Jaden Mickelson (6) and Chase Rahe. Clayton Maakestad, Kale Fritz (4, WP) and Sam Schwieger.

LOB-Fairmont 8, Sleepy Eye 3. 3B-Nate Kallenbach (F). SF-Parker Monsen (F), Sean Salter (SE). SAC-Dylan Gerken (F).