Gavin Rodning

MINNESOTA LAKE — The Class AA, No. 2-ranked Fairmont Cardinals erupted for 17 hits, including seven for extra bases, to flatten the Maple River Eagles, 24-1, during non-league baseball action Tuesday.

Gavin Rodning proved perfect at the plate by going 4-for-4 with a home run and a double en route to a game-leading five RBIs, and scored four runs for good measure to trigger Fairmont’s explosive offense.

Cooper Steuber produced four RBIs on the strength of a double and a triple in four official at-bats for the Cardinals. Steuber also crossed the plate twice.

Leadoff batter Eli Anderson displayed the unbeaten Cardinals’ power by hammering a game-opening HR to trigger a six-run first-inning outburst.

Zach Jorgensen, who went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, was hit by a pitch after Anderson’s solo shot before stealing second base. Jorgensen later scored on back-to-back wild pitches for a quick 2-0 margin.

Jack Kosbab, who went 2-for-3, walked before Nate Soelter singled, with both runners scoring on Steuber’s two-run triple. Steuber then crossed the plate when Rodning cranked a two-run HR to extend the Cardinals’ lead to 6-0.

Landen Meyerdirk doubled and Anderson singled, but both runners were stranded in the top of the first.

Rodning then singled to trigger Fairmont’s seven-run outburst during the top of the third to widen the gap to 13-0. Meyerdirk singled before Rodning scored on Lincoln Becker’s RBI single. Meyerdirk and Becker then circled the bases when Jorgensen launched a two-run double.

Kosbab contributed a single before Soelter lofted a sacrifice fly to build the Cardinals’ lead to 10-0. Levi Pooley reached on an error, Steuber drilled a two-run double and Rodning hammered a run-scoring double.

Fairmont unleashed nine more runs in the top of the fourth, with Anderson reaching on an error before Maple River issued back-to-back walks to Becker and Jorgensen. Anderson scored on a wild pitch before Kosbab reloaded the bases by getting plunked.

Soelter netted an RBI walk, Pooley was awarded an RBI when he was hit by a pitch and Rodning slammed a single to bring home two more Cardinal teammates.

Fairmont, however, was not done as Meyerdirk was plunked and Becker dropped in a two-run single. Jorgense and Kosbab followed with RBI singles to extend the lead to 22-0.

Becker went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, Meyerdirk went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, Kosbab finished 2 for-3 with one RBI and three runs scored, while Anderson supplied two hits, including the solo HR, and crossed the plate twice.

Meyerdirk started and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out two and walking two to net the victory for the Cardinals.

Becker and Ben Moeller each worked one inning of shutout relief for Fairmont (15-0), which plays host to Blue Earth Area at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Herb Wolf Field in Fairmont.

Fairmont 607 92 — 24 17 0

M. River 000 01 — 1 5 3

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Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 7, Martin County West 3 — Carson Domeier went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs to power the Knights to a 7-3 non-league triumph over the Mavericks on Tuesday in Sleepy Eye.

Joseph Herzog went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI, while teammate Kaleb Wait went 2-for-2 with one RBI for St. Mary’s.

Kain Sanders produced two hits and scored a run to pace MCW’s nine-hit performance, while Wyatt Williamson delivered a two-run double.

Brice Enter went 2-for-4 for the Mavericks, while Lucas Larson added a hit and crossed the plate once.

Martin County West (7-5) plays host to Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

MCW 000 000 3 — 3 9 3

SESM 221 110 X — 7 8 2

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Prep Softball

Luverne 13, Fairmont 3 (6 innings) — Leadoff batter Billi Connell collected four hits, including a double, produced three RBIs and scored two runs to help steer Luverne to a six-inning run-rule victory over Fairmont on Tuesday in Luverne.

Nevaeh Rahm slugged a two-run home run to top Fairmont’s four-hit effort, while teammates Emma Gudahl and Cassidy Schultz each singled and crossed the plate once. Jaya Johnson also contributed a hit.

Payton Behr went 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI to complement scoring three runs for Luverne, while Carly Olson contributed a single, a double and two RBIs. Reghan Bork supplied two hits, including a double, and collected two RBIs in the win.

Gracie Nath allowed three runs — two earned — on four hits, recorded 11 strikeouts and issued two walks in six innings pitched to earn the complete-game win for Luverne.

Rahm gave up 10 runs — only six earned — on 10 hits, struck out six and did not issue a walk in three innings of work to absorb the loss.

Fairmont (3-10) travels to Blue Earth Area on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. Big South Conference game.

FMT 102 000 — 3 4 7

LUV 241 411 — 13 13 4

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Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 12, Martin County West 6 — Adelinde Hoffmann produced three hits, including a HR, and three RBIs to help the Knights double up the Mavericks during nonconference action Tuesday in Sleepy Eye.

Hoffmann slugged a two-run round-tripper to highlight St. Mary’s eight-run bottom of the second inning.

Madeline Hose generated three hits and three RBIs for the Knights.

Paige Anderson collected two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs to top MCW, while teammate Ivy Kokoruda doubled home another run. Maddie Carlson supplied one RBI via a groundout.

St. Mary’s Lacey Mathiowetz allowed six runs on seven hits, struck out six and walked five in seven innings pitched to earn the complete-game victory.

Lina Arnold started and went 1 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on two hits, while walking four to take the loss for the Mavericks. Carlson gave up six runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked one in 4 2/3 innings of relief.

Martin County West (5-6) plays host to Jackson County Central at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

MCW 000 031 2 — 6 7 1

SESM 080 202 X — 12 9 2