FAIRMONT — Fairmont utilized ‘small-ball’ offense, shutout pitching and stingy defense to remain unbeaten in the Section 2AA softball playoffs.

Ace right-hander Jordan Ehlert fired a four-hit complete-game shutout and scored the sectional game’s initial run to steer the Cardinals to a 2-0 victory over the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Bucs in Fairmont.

No. 3-seeded Fairmont (16-6) advances to play No. 2-seeded Jordan (17-5) in a winners-bracket game at noon Saturday on Field 2 at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Jordan zipped Tri-City United, 11-0, to remain undefeated in the postseason.

No. 6-seeded WEM (14-8) faces No. 7-seeded TCU in an elimination game at noon on Field 4 at Caswell Park on Saturday.

“We needed to get something going offensively, so we tried a little ‘small-ball’ strategy,” said Fairmont head coach Haley Loerts, whose lineup tied the program’s single-season record for wins. “Finally, we executed our bunts in key situations and they paid off.”

With Ehlert and WEM right-hander Trista Hering locked up in a scoreless pitchers’ duel through 4 1/2 frames, Ehlert assisted her own cause by lining a leadoff single back through the box to trigger the home half of the fifth.

Sydnea Brinkman then dropped down a perfect bunt in front of the plate, and the Bucs’ third baseman fired the ball over the first baseman’s head. Ehlert wheeled to third on the play before alertly scampering home when the return throw from the outfield sailed by the cutoff.

Brinkman, who reached second on the two-error play, moved to third base on Ericka Kim’s sacrifice bunt before crossing the plate on Jaiden Leiding’s clutch RBI single up the middle for a 2-0 lead.

That’s all the run support Ehlert would need as the sophomore right-hander retired WEM in order during the sixth and seventh.

“During this time of the season, it only takes one inning to win it or one inning to lose it,” said Loerts. “We came through with the winning inning, and then our pitching and defense closed the door.”

Ehlert worked out of a first-inning jam on the strength of outstanding defense. Kate Masberg drilled a double to left-center, but tried to stretch the extra-base hit into a triple. Fairmont shortstop Taylor Nuss, however, made a perfect relay to third baseman Courtney Williams for the out.

Autumn Taylor then legged out a bunt hit and Hailie Tegmeier smacked a single to left to put runners at first and second. Maddy Meskan hit a comebacker to Ehlert, who promptly nailed the lead runner at third, but Williams had other ideas. The junior third baseman rifled a throw to first to complete a key double play.

Mallory Gochanour added the Cardinals’ other hit on the game. Masberg went 2-for-3 to top the Bucs.

Ehlert struck out nine and issued four walks in seven innings of work to earn the complete-game victory.

Hering gave up two runs — both unearned — on just three hits, struck out 10 and walked only one in six innings.

WEM 000 000 0 — 0 4 2

FHS 000 020 x — 2 3 1

Trista Hering (LP) and Autumn Taylor. Jordan Ehlert (WP) and Mariah Gochanour.

LOB–WEM 7; Fairmont 2. 2B–Kate Masberg (WEM). SAC–Sydnea Brinkman (F), Ericka Kim (F), Taylor (WEM).

North Union 12, North Iowa 0 (3 innings) — Ace hurler Anna Ingalls fired a perfect game, while teammate Bre Anderson produced four RBIs behind two hits to power the Warriors to a three-inning rout over the Bison on Wednesday night in Swea City.

Ingalls recorded seven strikeouts and did not issue a walk in pitching a no-hitter over three innings to earn the complete-game win.

Bre Anderson went 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs, while Rory McClellan and Shawna Person each went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Ingalls doubled and scored a run, Kyarsten Mullen went 1-for-2 with one RBI and crossed the plate twice, Kate Anderson went 1-for-1 with two runs scored and Hope Steinberger singled and scored.

Peyton Busch added a hit for the Warriors, while Maddie Rolling and Brooklyn Prochniak each scored.

North Union (1-0) hosts Forest City in a 6 p.m. twinbill tonight in Swea City.

Prep Baseball

North Union 19, North Iowa 4 (4 innings) — Tanner Doocy and Trent Pedersen combined for four hits, seven RBIs and six runs scored to propel the Warriors to a four-frame rout over the Bison on Wednesday night in Bancroft.

Doocy went 2-for-2 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Pedersen went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and four runs scored.

Brody Fritche went 1-for-4 with three RBIs for North Union, while Jared Larson tallied one hit and two RBIs.

Blake Crawmer singled home a run and scored three times for the Warriors, while Riley Bauer and Noah Morphew each collected two RBIs.

Fritche allowed four earned runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked four in 3 2/3 innings to net the win. Larson got the final out in relief.

North Union (1-0) hosts Forest City at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Bancroft.