DIVING SCOOP — Fairmont first baseman Emily Muller makes a diving catch of an infield popup off the bat of Blue Earth Area’s Kylee Eckmann (white jersey) during Big South softball action Thursday at Cardinal Park in Fairmont. Cardinal pitcher Anna Ehlert (right) watches the defensive gem. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — The Fairmont softball team produced its third consecutive win on Thursday, but not without a down-to-the-wire challenge from Blue Earth Area.

Allison Janssen singled, Anna Ehlert doubled and later scored the respective tying and winning runs via a two-out error on Cassidy Schultz’s grounder in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the Cardinals to a 6-5 Big South Conference comeback win over the Bucs in Fairmont.

“I find it ironic that we hit seeds (line-drives) all over the place today that they (the Bucs) caught, but then we win it on a ground ball that wasn’t hit very hard and was thrown away at first base,” said Fairmont head coach Cory Hainy. “I guess that’s the way this game goes some days.”

Clinging to the one-run lead, Fairmont reliever Nevaeh Rahm received a defensive gem from second baseman Kynlie Anderson to prevent Blue Earth Area from scoring during the top of the seventh inning.

After Rahm struck out the Bucs’ leadoff batter in the visitors’ final at-bat, McKenna Dutton drilled her third single of the game up the middle. Clara Ziegler then smacked a hard grounder to third, but the throw to second base short-hopped Anderson, who made the saving scoop for the force and pivotal second out.

Anderson’s glovework proved clutch as the Bucs’ Claire Sullivan blooped an ensuing single into shallow left field to put runners at first and second. Rahm, however, sealed her victory in relief by getting a groundout to first baseman Emily Muller to end the back-and-forth contest.

“Nevaeh did a nice job of shutting the door in relief today,” Hainy said in reference to Rahm, who allowed just two hits, struck out three and did not issue a walk in three shutout innings of work.

Trailing 4-2, Blue Earth Area displayed its resiliency in the top of the fifth as Kylee Eckmann, Taylor Klabunde, McKenna Dutton and Ziegler reeled off consecutive singles to plate three runs. Dutton knocked home two runs, while Ziegler generated the go-ahead run with her single to left.

Klabunde knotted the game at 2-all in the top of the third when she belted a two-run inside-the-park home run to straightaway center field. Roxanne Quintero, who reached on a single, scored ahead of Klabunde.

The Cardinals then regained the lead in the home half of the third behind a two-out rally. Schultz was plunked, stole second base and scored two wild pitches later for a 3-2 lead.

Emily Muller then singled to center to put Fairmont runners on the corners before Ava Gillmore lined an RBI single to left for a 4-2 margin.

Fairmont grabbed the game’s initial lead in the bottom of the first. Ehlert singled before courtesy runner Emma Gudahl circled the bases on Chantel Moeller’s RBI single up the middle. Courtesy runner Ava Terfehr later scored when Schultz’s hard-hit grounder to short was mishandled for a 2-0 edge.

Moeller and Ehlert collected two hits apiece for the Cardinals, while Dutton and Klabunde produced three and two hits, respectively, for the Bucs.

Olivia Dutton allowed two runs — both unearned — on four hits, struck out three and issued one walk in 4 1/3 combined innings to take the loss.

Fairmont (4-8) plays host to Luverne at 5:30 p.m. today in a Big South game at Cardinal Park. Blue Earth Area (2-10) plays host to Medford at 11 a.m. Saturday in Blue Earth.

BEA 002 030 0 — 5 11 4

FMT 202 002 x — 6 8 3

Kylee Eckmann, Olivia Dutton (2), Eckmann (3), O. Dutton (4, LP) and Miya Gustafson. Anna Ehlert, Nevaeh Rahm (5, WP) and Chantel Moeller.

LOB–Fairmont 8, Blue Earth Area 6. 2B–Ehlert (FMT). HR–Taylor Klabunde (BEA). SAC–Klabunde (BEA).

Martin County West 21, Madelia 6 — Four Mavericks collected three or more hits on their way to a 21-6 Valley Conference softball victory over the Blackhawks on Thursday in Madelia.

Lauren Borchardt led MCW with four hits and four runs scored, while teammate Ivy Kokoruda belted two triples and a double.

Emily Anderson smacked three hits, including a triple, for the Mavericks, while Taylor Elliott also collected three hits.

Hailee Schuett smacked two hits, including a home run, while Paige Anderson produced two hits.

Emily Anderson pitched all five innings in the run-rule shortened contest, allowing three runs on four hits and five walks, while striking out six.

Addie Ahrens and Audrie Zaleski each doubled for the Blackhawks.

MCW (6-5, 2-2 Valley) travels to Nicollet on Tuesday.

Prep Baseball

Martin County West 11, Nicollet 3 — Blake Jagodzinske earned the win on the mound and collected three hits, three RBIs and a double to lead the Mavericks past the Raiders during Valley Conference baseball action Thursday in Welcome.

Jagodzinske pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks, while striking out 10. Nick Rathman pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out three.

Jaxson Rohman went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBIs and two stolen bases, while Christian Bachenberg had one hit, a run scored and three RBIs.

Martin County West (5-7, 5-1 Valley) goes to Mountain Lake for a 1 p.m. matchup Saturday.

Truman/Martin Luther/Granada-Huntley-East Chain 10, Madelia 5 — Owen Wolter earned the win on the mound and added three hits at the plate to power the Jaguars past the Blackhawks during Valley Conference baseball action Thursday in Madelia.

Wolter pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing five runs — four earned — on three walks and one hit batter, while striking out two. Wolter added two singles, a triple, a run scored and two RBIs at the plate, while teammate Luke Kester generated two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.

McKenna Benck doubled, walked, drove in two runs and scored once, while Jacob Moeller had one hit, one run scored and an RBI. Kaiden Musser added a hit and two runs scored to the Jaguars’ efforts.

Musser pitched the final 2/3s of an inning, allowing one walk and striking out one.

The Jaguars (2-8) travel to Heron Lake for a 4:30 p.m. matchup today with Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda.