JOHNSON & JOHNSON — Fairmont starting pitcher Nevaeh Rahm (25) fires the softball to second baseman Jaya Johnson (10), who was covering first base, after fielding a bunt by Jackson County Central’s Lauren Johnson (6) during Game 1 of a season-opening doubleheader Saturday at Cardinal Park in Fairmont. Cardinals’ first baseman Emily Muller (15) looks on. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)

FAIRMONT — After a season-opening hiccup in a 12-2, five-inning Game 1 loss on Saturday, junior right-hander Allison Janssen and the Fairmont Cardinals demonstrated their resiliency by rallying for an 8-4 Game 2 victory to salvage a split decision during a Big South Conference softball doubleheader with the Jackson County Central Huskies at Cardinal Park in Fairmont.

Janssen recorded a game-best nine strikeouts to back hurling a three-hit complete-game performance inside the chalked circle.

Janssen allowed four runs — three earned — and issued six walks in seven innings of work to earn the victory in the twinbill’s finale.

“I’ll be honest — I was surprised with the way we played in the first game,” said Fairmont head coach Cory Hainy. “After (starting pitcher) Nevaeh (Rahm) struck out the side in the top of the first (inning), we gave up a big eight-run inning to Jackson in the second and we just couldn’t come back from that.

“After a chat with the girls between games, we got off to a better start in the second game. We were able to put together a big (eight-run) inning in the bottom of the fourth, and AJ and our defense did the rest.”

Trailing 2-0, Janssen set the offensive table for the Cardinals during the home half of the fourth frame in Game 2 by drawing a leadoff walk. Anna Ehlert and Rahm followed suit, respectively, to load the bases for Chantel Moeller.

Moeller knotted the game by lining a two-run single before teammate Cassidy Schultz received another walk to load the bases again.

Jaya Johnson then smacked a two-run single before Fairmont netted a solo run via a wild pitch. Emily Muller was hit by a pitch before Emma Gudahl delivered an RBI single for 6-2 margin.

“Jaya really came through with a timely clutch hit to break the tie in the fourth,” said Hainy.

Janssen drew her second base-on-balls of the inning before Rahm generated a two-run single — her second hit of the game — to cap the eight-run offensive outburst.

Janssen and the Cardinals’ defensive unit did the rest, allowing only solo runs to the Huskies during the top of the fifth and sixth to exit Cardinal Park with a .500 record.

In Game 1, Alana Freking produced the pivotal two-run single during the Huskies’ eight-run eruption during the top of the second inning.

Brittany Arduser and Lauren Johnson each supplied slap singles, with Johnson collecting an RBI.

Jackson County Central manufactured four more runs in the third via Carson Schneekloth’s single, two walks and two plunked batters to build a 12-0 lead.

Gudahl spoiled JCC starting pitcher Hadley Wachal’s shutout bid during the home half of the third. Gudahl drilled a leadoff double to left-center field before scoring on Rahm’s clutch RBI single to left with two outs.

Fairmont added a solo run in the last of the fourth frame. Cassidy Schultz drew a leadoff walk, stole second base and moved to third on Jaya Johnson’s right-side groundout. Brylee Miller’s pinch-hit fielder’s choice plated Schultz.

Moeller added a leadoff single for Fairmont in the bottom of the second inning.

Wachal allowed two runs — both earned — on three hits, chalked up a pair of strikeouts and walked three in five frames pitched to earn the Game 1 victory for the Huskies.

Rahm allowed nine runs — five earned — on three hits, struck out four and walked four in 2-plus innings to receive the opening-game loss.

Miller struck out two and did not issue a walk in two hitless and scoreless innings of relief for the Cardinals in Game 1.

Fairmont (1-1) is scheduled to travel to Marshall on Tuesday for a 4:30 p.m. Big South Conference doubleheader against the Tigers.

Jackson County Central (1-1) is slated to play host to St. James Area at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Jackson in another conference matchup.