IN PURSUIT — Fairmont left fielder Levi Pooley (left) chases down New Ulm’s Cole Ranweiler for an out during a rundown between second and third base in Game 2 of a Big South doubleheader Monday at Herb Wolf Field in Fairmont. Cardinals second baseman Lincoln Becker (10) looks on. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — The New Ulm Eagles kept their pitch counts down and their run and hit productions up to sweep a Big South baseball doubleheader from the Fairmont Cardinals on Monday night.

Hunter Sehr and Carter Lang combined for 10 hits and nine RBIs during the twinbill, while right-handers Sam Keckeisen and Lang hurled a combined 10 2/3 innings to earn the respective decisions behind the Eagles’ 15-3 and 12-2 victories over the Cardinals at Herb Wolf Field in Fairmont.

“Carter (Lang) really did a nice job in giving us five good innings in his first outing of the season,” New Ulm head coach Kevin Briggs said in reference to his Game 2 starting pitcher who tossed a complete game thanks to his team’s run-rule win. “Like Carter, Sam kept his pitch count low in working five-plus innings on the mound in the opener, and Kedar (Schmitz) closed it out.”

“It definitely helps when you keep the error column fairly clean in a doubleheader, too,” Briggs added in reference to the Eagles’ miniscule total of two miscues during the two-game span.

Leadoff batter Cole Ranweiler utilized his speed to manufacture half of New Ulm’s 4-0 lead over Fairmont through four completed frames in Game 1. Ranweiler scored two of his six runs on the doubleheader by reaching base two out of his incredible seven times on the night. Sehr, who went 5-for-8 in the twinbill, singled home Ranweiler both times for two of his four RBIs.

Eli Anderson finally spoiled Keckeisen’s shutout bid during the Fairmont half of the fifth. Brendan Schmidtke drew a two-out walk and then circled the bases when Anderson drilled an RBI triple to left field to reduce the Cardinals’ deficit to 4-1.

Sehr lined a run-scoring single and Lang deposited a two-run double down the left-field line in the top of the sixth to extend the Eagles’ edge to 7-1.

Fairmont, however, answered with two runs in the home half of the sixth to close the gap to 7-3. Jackson Utermarck walked before courtesy runner Hayden Clabaugh reached second on an errant pickoff throw and wheeled home on Lincoln Becker’s RBI double. Becker moved to third on Jack Kosbab’s single before scoring on Nate Soelter’s RBI fielder’s choice.

New Ulm erupted for eight runs on five hits, three walks and three of Fairmont’s eight errors in Game 1 during the top of the seventh to grab a 12-run margin. Connor Slette’s RBI pinch-hit single, Ethan Stade’s double and Lang’s three-run HR highlighted the offensive outburst. Lang went 5-for-8 with a doubleheader-best five RBIs.

Keckeisen allowed three runs on six hits, struck out five and walked three in 5 2/3 innings to net the Game 1 win. Schmitz allowed one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless relief.

Kosbab collected two of Fairmont’s seven hits, while Jacob Crissinger, Gavin Rodning and Utermarck chipped in singles.

In Game 2, Lang tossed a three-hit complete-game gem to help pace the Eagles’ 12-2, five-inning early exit from Wolf Field.

Lang, a junior right-hander, allowed one earned run, struck out six, plunked three batters and walked one in going the distance.

Becker singled and scored the Cardinals’ first run of the nightcap on Rodning’s RBI double in the fourth, while Landen Meyerdirk reached on an error and later crossed the plate on Kosbab’s sacrifice fly in the fifth. Pooley tripled in the second inning with one out, but was stranded.

Evan Wiltscheck, who went 4-for-7 overall, delivered an RBI single during the Eagles’ manufactured five-run first at-bat before smacking a run-scoring single during a two-run second en route to three RBIs on the night.

Ranweiler’s RBI triple and Sehr’s run-scoring single highlighted New Ulm’s five-run explosion during the bottom of the fifth in Game 2.

Keckeisen was plunked by a bases-loaded delivery to walk-off the Eagles with one out. Ranweiler went 3-for-4 in the nightcap.

Fairmont (2-4) hits the road to St. Peter today for a 5:30 p.m. conference game, while New Ulm (5-1) travels to Worthington today.

(Game 1)

New Ulm 112 003 8 — 15 12 1

Fairmont 000 012 0 — 3 7 8

Sam Keckeisen (WP), Kedar Schmitz (6) and Jack Albrecht. Nate Soelter (LP), Landen Meyerdirk (4), Brendan Schmidtke (5), Cooper Steuber (6), Hayden Clabaugh (7) and Jackson Utermarck.

LOB–New Ulm 8, Fairmont 7. 2B–Lincoln Becker (FMT), Carter Lang (NU), Ethan Stade (NU). 3B–Eli Anderson (FMT). HR–Carter Lang (NU). SF–Isaiah Miller (NU), Jack Albrecht (NU). SAC–Isaiah Miller (NU).

(Game 2)

Fairmont 000 11 — 2 3 1

New Ulm 520 05 — 12 12 1

Winning run scored with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Eli Anderson (LP), Preston Vaughn (1), Levi Pooley (5) and Jackson Utermarck. Carter Lang (WP) and Evan Wiltscheck.

LOB–New Ulm 8, Fairmont 6. 2B–Gavin Rodning (FMT). 3B–Levi Pooley (FMT), Cole Ranweiler (NU).

Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 5, Martin County West 4 — With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, a wild pitch brought home the winning run for the Coyotes on Monday.

Lucas Jagodzinske pitched four innings for the Mavericks and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out one. Nick Rathman pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for MCW, allowing two runs on one hit and four walks, while striking out five.

Wyatt Williamson hit a two-run double for the Mavericks and scored on a dropped third strike to contribute three of MCW’s four runs and the run that gave the Mavericks the lead in the sixth.

Ely Fest pitched four innings for the Coyotes, allowing one run on one hit and two walks, while striking out six. Tyson Cotter pitched the final three innings for HLOF, allowing three runs on two hits and one walk, while striking out four.

Logan Erdmann had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs for the Coyotes.

Martin County West (2-6) plays host to Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain at 4:30 p.m. today at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

MCW 100 003 0 — 4

HLOF 003 000 2 — 5

Lucas Jagodzinske, Nick Rathman (LP, 5) and Wyatt Williamson. Ely Fest, Tyson Cotter (WP, 5) and Matt Madsen.

Martin County West 4, St. Clair 1 — Blake Jagodzinske struck out 10 batters on his way to a five-inning, two-hit pitching performance to power the Mavericks to the three-run Valley Conference win over the Cyclones on Friday.

Blake Jagodzinske allowed only one run and issued two walks in his strong showing, setting up Kain Sanders for a two-inning save where he allowed one walk and one hit batter, while striking out two.

Jacob Fiala collected two hits, including a double, and two runs scored, while Nick Rathman had an RBI double for the Mavericks.

Caleb Mathiowetz had two hits for the Cyclones.

Alex Freitag pitched 5 2/3 innings for St. Clair and allowed four runs — three earned — on three hits and two hit batters, while striking out eight.

Dylan Blount came on for the final out and collected a strikeout.

St. Clair 001 000 0 — 1 2 0

MCW 110 101 x — 4 3 2

Blake Jagodzinske (WP), Kain Sanders (6, Sv) and Lucas Jagodzinske. Alex Freitag (LP), Dylan Blunt (6) and Ethan Preston.