FAIRMONT — After a 16-inning loss two days prior, the Fairmont Cardinals softball team surprisingly showed no signs of fatigue on Thursday. With an 11-1, five-inning game and 12-4 second-game win, the Cardinals swept the Marshall Tigers for one of its best starts in program history (10-2).

“It was hard coming from a 16-inning game and loss, but the girls knew they had 14 innings, at least, to go tonight, and they did a good job,” Cardinals head coach Hailey Loerts said. It’s always nice to get two Big South (Conference) wins.”

The Cardinals eliminated some work for themselves by only going five innings in the first game on the strength of a four-run fourth inning.

Taylor Nuss, who walked and Courtney Williams, who doubled, scored in the first inning and Sydney Brinkman stole home after hitting a double in the second inning for the Cardinals. Mariah Gochanour tacked on another run in the third for a 4-1 before the Cardinals scored seven runs over the next two innings.

In the bottom of the fourth, Mallory Gochanour drew a two-out walk before Tigers starting pitcher Karley Polejewski hit Nuss with a pitch. One of the Tigers’ two errors in Game One allowed Mariah Gochanour to reach base for three on.

Polejewski then walked Williams to score Mallory Gochanour. Jordan Ehlert singled to score Nuss, and Mariah Gochanour stole home on a wild pitch before Taylor Crissinger got hit by a pitch.

Williams wheeled her way home to provide Jaiden Leiding the RBI single, and Polejewski struck out Brinkman as the Cardinals went up, 8-1.

The Cardinals were able to keep the Tigers to one run after escaping a bases loaded situation in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom half of the inning, Ericka Kim and Mallory Gochanour both drew walks. Kim then scored on Nuss’ RBI groundout before reliever Paige Andries hit Mariah Gochanour, Williams and Ehlert with pitches. Mallory Gochanour reached home on wild pich, and Crissinger’s double allowed Mariah Gochanour the final run of the game.

Abigail Schauer scored the Tigers’ lone run of the game on Lenei Estrada’s hit in the top of the second.

The Tigers managed to swing its first lead of the twinbill after the first inning of the final game.

With the Cardinals playing the visiting role in the second game, Williams hit a two-run homerun with two out in the top of the first. Nuss, who walked to reach, also scored on Williams’ homer.

The Tigers, however, responded. Katelyn Schauer walked to first and then scored on Morgan Radel’s single.

Abigail Schauer brought Radel home via an RBI base hit, and Polejewski, serving as Shleby Versaevel’s courtesy runner, scored on Estrada’s two-out single. Versaevel got a hit to get on base.

Andries grounded out to end the three-run inning and the Tigers’ momentum.

The Cardinals turned the tides and regained the lead with five runs in the third inning. Kim, Mallory Gochanour, Nuss, Mariah Gochanour and Williams each got a hit and touched each base for a 7-4 Cardinals advantage. Crissinger and Leiding both got on base via a walk and hit, respectively, but were left stranded as Tigers pitcher Madison Wegner struck out Brinkman to end the inning.

Estrada managed to put up another run for the Tigers in the bottom of the third, but the Cardinals answered back with a run and then some. Nuss doubled and Mariah Gochanour singled with two out in the fourth. Mariah Gochanour stole a base before she and Nuss made it home thanks to Williams’ single.

Williams continued to pile on to the Cardinals’ lead in the sixth inning. The hard-hitting third baseman hit her second homerun of the game over the centerfield fence, bringing Nuss, who walked, in with her. Williams went had five hits in six official at-bats with six runs and seven RBIs in the twinbill.

“She’s always a solid player,” Loerts said about Williams. “Two home runs in one night is always awesome. She does a good job for us.”

Leiding added on the Cardinals’ 12th and final run in the seventh inning. Ehlert and Co. then limited the Tigers to one hit in the bottom of the seventh to pocket the sweep.

“Defense is always been one of our strong suits,” Loerts said. “We’ve got girls who are aggressive out there and make the plays that we need.”

Ehlert totaled nine strikeouts and nine walks to earn two complete-game wins.

“She (Ehlert) does a really good job with sticking out these long games. She pitched all 16 innings in the game Tuesday and wanted to do both games tonight,” Loerts said. “She has confidence in herself and the team has confidence in her.”

Fairmont (10-2) faces Windom, Adrian and Pipestone during the Windom Tournament, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Game One

MAR 010 00– 1 6 3

FMT 211 43–11 9 0

Jordan Ehlert (WP) and Mariah Gochanour. Karley Polejewski (LP), Paige Andries (5) and Shelby Versaevel.

LOB– Marshall 9, Fairmont 7. 2B–Courtney Williams (F), Taylor Crissinger (F), Sydnea Brinkman (F).

Game Two

FMT 205 202 1–12 14 1

MAR 301 000 0– 4 8 2

Jordan Ehlert (WP) and Mariah Gochanour. Madison Wegner (LP) and Shelby Versaevel.

LOB–Marshall 9, Fairmont 6. 2B–Taylor Nuss (F). HR–Courtney Williams (F) 2. SAC–Sydney Mauch (M), Mariah Gochanour (F), Ericka Kim (F). SF–Mariah Gochanour.

Fairmont’s junior varsity team swept Marshall on Thursday. The Cardinals took an 11-1, five-inning decision in the first game before winning the second game, 7-4.

Lexus Wojtanowicz had a double and triple in the first game and got a hit in the second. Cambrie Anderson doubled and Jen Moller tripled in Game One. Mallory Mosloski provided two hits in the five-inning victory.

Kaitlyn Freese recorded the win, giving up a run on three hits while walking one and striking out four.

Maddy Moeller had a hit in the three-run second-game win. Moeller pitched a complete-game, giving up four runs on three hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

Fairmont improves to an 11-0 record.

Martin County West 16, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 0 — The Mavericks utilized the new 15-run rule after four innings to shut out the Bulldogs during Valley Conference play on Thursday in Welcome.

Madison Klima and Sierra Williamson each produced two hits — including a double — and four RBIs. Sierra Williamson and Jenna Steele both added on homeruns. Mercedes Moeller totald three hits and two RBIs.

Alyssa Williamson, who had two RBIs and Jordah Stahl each collected two hits and handled the Mavericks’ pitching. Stahl gave up two hits, struck out five, walked one and hit one batter over three innings to notch the win.

Alyssa Williamson pitched the final inning, allowing one hit while fanning one.

Katlyn Jaeger, Amber Wilson and Sierra Lubben each had a hit for the Bulldogs.

Paiton Ahlman allowed 10 runs on six hits and two walks in 1/3 of an inning to absorb the loss. Cassidy Storjohann gave up six runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings on the mound.

Martin County West (7-2, 4-0) starts the Windom Tournament on Saturday with a 9 a.m. contest against Adrian.

JWP 0 00 0– 0 3 4

MCW 10 51 x–16 14 1

Jordan Stahl (WP), Alyssa Williamson (4) and Mercedes Moeller. Paiton Ahlman (LP), Cassidy Storjohann (1) and Tyler Kroll.

Martin Luther /Granada-Huntley-East Chain 10, Madelia/Truman 5 — Marissa Steinhaus collected three RBIs on 3-for-5 hitting to lead the Jaguars to a five-run win over the Jayhawks on Thursday in Truman.

She also gave up five runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts and four walks to pocket the complete-game victory.

Alex Schuder provided the Jaguars with three runs, while Lizzie Oothoudt recorded two RBIs with a run scored. Mitchaelah Petrowiak went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs.

Carissa Caraway contributed two hits, scored a run and batted in a run for the Jayhawks. Lydia Studer went 1-for-3 and scored twice.

Courtney Davis pitched 2/3 of an inning and allowed three runs on two hits while striking out two and walking three to take the loss. Jessica Baumgartner gave up five runs on four hits, walked three and fanned one over 2 1/3 inning. Mikayla Klinkner allowed three runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts over four innings.

Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain (3-8) hosts United South Central at 4:30 p.m. today in Northrop, while Madelia/Truman (3-11, 0-4 Valley) plays Alden-Conger on Tuesday in Alden.

MLG 304 003 0–10 9 2

MT 000 113 0– 5 7 9

Marissa Steinhaus (WP) and Michaelah Petrowiak. Courtney Davis (LP), Jessica Baumgartner (1), Mikayla Klinkner (4) and Chloe Hartman.