Zach Jorgensen

BLUE EARTH — Fairmont junior right-hander Zach Jorgensen literally helped deliver a good-to-the-last-pitch baseball victory to the visiting Cardinals’ overall record on Thursday.

The hard-throwing Jorgensen hurled a two-hit complete-game gem from the mound and delivered an RBI single from the batter’s box to help Fairmont squeeze by the rival Blue Earth Area Bucs, 2-1, during Big South Conference action at Veterans Memorial Field in Blue Earth.

Jorgensen allowed one unearned run on two hits, recorded six strikeouts and issued three walks in seven innings of work to earn the win.

“Jorgy had great command of his pitches and was really dialed in on the mound today,” Fairmont head coach Don Waletich said in reference to his ace right-hander’s third start of the 2021 campaign.

Jorgensen, however, was not the only pitcher to post impressive numbers as Blue Earth Area freshman Taylor Davids fired a four-hit complete-game gem in absorbing the tough loss.

Davids gave up two runs, issued only one walk and struck out one in seven yeoman innings pitched for the Bucs.

Ironically, the only walk that the Cardinals received eventually came around to score the decisive run in the top of the third inning.

Ahead 1-0, Landen Meyerdirk drew a leadoff walk for Fairmont before advancing 90 feet on Eli Anderson’s groundout. Meyerdirk then circled the bases when Jorgensen drilled an RBI single to left field for a 2-0 lead.

Anderson led off the conference clash with a single, stole second base, advanced 90 more feet on Jorgensen’s groundout and crossed the plate on Jack Kosbab’s RBI groundout in the top of the first inning.

Trailing 2-0, Blue Earth Area manufactured a solo run in the bottom of the fourth frame. Anders Fering drew a leadoff walk before gaining third base on a Cardinals’ error. Fering then scored on Kean Hicks’ RBI groundout.

Jorgensen went on to retire the 11 batters in a row, including erasing a walk to Keegan O’Brien, who was thrown out by Fairmont catcher Jackson Utermarck when the fleet-footed Buc leadoff batter tried to swipe second base in the fifth.

Davids proved as equally impressive by retiring 11 of the final 12 Fairmont batters he faced from the fourth to the seventh inning. Levi Pooley interrupted the string with an infield hit in the seventh.

Parker Meyers and O’Brien produced both of the Bucs’ hits on the game, while Gavin Rodning collected the Cardinals’ other hit.

Fairmont (8-7) faces Martin County West at 4:30 p.m. today at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome, while Blue Earth Area (11-4) travels to Windom on Saturday for an 11 a.m. league game.

FMT 101 000 0 — 2 4 1

BEA 000 100 0 — 1 2 1

Zach Jorgensen (WP) and Jackson Utermarck. Taylor Davids (LP) and Ryan Madetzke.

LOB–Fairmont 4, Blue Earth Area 3.