SAVING SNAG — Fairmont catcher Jackson Utermarck snags a wide throw to the plate during nonconference baseball action against Faribault on Monday night at Herb Wolf Field in Fairmont. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — No. 6 batter Gavin Rodning set the offensive tone by producing a game-best three hits and scoring a game-high three runs, while starting right-hander Landen Meyerdirk pitched five solid innings to help the Fairmont Cardinals outslug the Faribault Falcons, 11-8, in non-league baseball action Monday.

After the Falcons capitalized on the first of the Cardinals’ three errors to manufacture a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Lincoln Becker and Rodning triggered Fairmont’s five-run offensive outburst during the home half of the second.

“We moved him (Rodning) up a couple of spots in the batting order, and he delivered for us,” said Fairmont head coach Don Waletich.

After Becker and Rodning singled to put runners on the corners, Jacob Crissinger was hit by an offering from Faribault starting pitcher Ayden Qualey to load the bases.

Nate Soelter’s fly ball to right was dropped to allow the tying run to score before Levi Pooley drew a bases-loaded walk for a 2-1 edge. Eli Anderson lofted a sacrifice fly to generate the first of his three RBIs before Zach Jorgensen lined a two-run single through the hole at short. Jorgensen also eventually finished with three RBIs on the game.

Jack Kosbab followed with the second of his two hits before Faribault turned a key double play to prevent further damage.

Teddy Calmer and Jordan Nawrocki delivered back-to-back RBI hits to inch the Falcons within 5-3 during the top of the third. Zack Slinger singled and scored on Calmer’s second hit — a towering run-scoring double to center. Calmer later circled the bases on Nawrocki’s single to left.

Rodning then utilized his bat and legs to produce a solo run in the Fairmont home half of the third.

Rodning crushed a double and later came home when Nate Soelter’s soft-sinking liner over the mound was thrown away at first base.

Anderson’s two-run single, Jorgensen’s run-producing check-swing ground out and Jackson Utermarck’s RBI single ignited Fairmont’s four-run fifth at-bat en route to a 10-3 margin.

After Hunter Nelson drilled an RBI triple and Slinger smacked an RBI double off Fairmont reliever Brendan Schmidtke in the top of the sixth, Rodning answered for the Cardinals in the home half. Rodning singled, stole second and came home after swiping third and forcing an overthrow to the base.

Anderson then walked three Falcon batters in the seventh — with all of them scoring in the top of the seventh before Jorgensen squeezed the final out from his shortstop position in shallow left field.

Kosbab went 2-for-3 for the Cardinals, while Slinger, Qualey and Calmer each generated two hits for the Falcons.

Meyerdirk allowed three runs — two earned — on six hits, struck out four and walked one in five frames of work to earn the victory for the Cardinals.

Qualey allowed six runs — all unearned — on eight hits, struck out four, walked two and hit one batter in four innings pitched to take the loss for the Falcons.

Fairmont (6-7) returns to Big South Conference action today when it plays host to Waseca at 5:30 p.m. at Herb Wolf Field.

Faribault (3-9) plays host to Owatonna on Thursday.

FBO 102 002 3 — 8 9 4

FMT 051 041 x — 11 11 3

Ayden Qualey (LP), Braedon Mensing (5), Bayley Mueller (5), Teddy Calmer (5) and Jordan Nawrocki. Landen Meyerdirk (WP), Brendan Schmidtke (6), Eli Anderson (7, Sv) and Jackson Utermarck.

LOB–Faribault 8, Fairmont 7. 2B–Gavin Rodning (Fairmont), Zack Slinger (Faribault), Teddy Calmer (Faribault). 3B–Hunter Nelson (Faribault). SF–Eli Anderson (Fairmont), Ayden Qualey (Faribault). SAC–Levi Pooley (Fairmont).

Prep Softball

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 9, Fairmont 1 — The unranked Knights improved their record to 13-0 with an eight-run nonconference triumph over the youthful Cardinals on Monday in Lake Crystal.

Emily Muller, Kaitlyn Scott, Chantel Moeller and Ava Gillmore each produced hits for Fairmont.

Gillmore displayed her tenacity in the top of the seventh inning by fouling off four pitches with a 1-2 count before singling home Emma Gudahl for the Cardinals’ lone run. Gudahl was courtesy running for Moeller, who had reached on a single.

Starting pitcher Nevaeh Rahm gave up seven runs — only three earned — on three hits, struck out two and issued four walks in four innings of work to take the loss for Fairmont.

Anna Ehlert allowed two runs — one earned — on two hits and walked two in two innings of relief for the Cardinals.

Fairmont (4-10) travels to Waseca today for a Big South Conference contest.

LCWM edged Fairmont, 1-0, during Monday’s junior varsity game in Lake Crystal.

Gabby Leiding recorded 10 strikeouts while allowing the unearned run on just two hits in six innings of work to absorb the tough loss for Fairmont.

Leiding, Ella Klunder, Breanna Groskreutz and Jayda Healey each collected hits for Fairmont (10-3).