STOLEN BASE — Fairmont runner Brylee Miller (right) beats the throw to Blue Earth Area second baseman Berkley Hagedorn (1) for a stolen base during Big South Conference softball action Thursday at Cardinal Park. (Photo by Charlie Sorrells)

FAIRMONT — When Ella Klunder’s pinch-hit single scored Fairmont teammate Nevaeh Rahm with two out in the bottom of the fourth inning on Thursday night, numerous high school softball fans at Cardinal Park did not realize it was a “walk-off.”

Fairmont erupted for 10 third-inning runs and six more during the fourth to exit the ballpark with a 17-2 run-rule Big South Conference win over the Blue Earth Area Bucs in Fairmont.

“That’s 15 in four,” home plate umpire Greg Thiesse said in reference to the run differential and innings completed, respectively.

“The game sure didn’t start out like one (run-ruled decision) as we slept-walked through the first two innings tonight,” said Cardinal head coach Cory Hainy, whose lineup generated 13 of its 15 hits during the third and fourth frames. “Give credit to Blue Earth Area as they came ready to play and we didn’t, and that’s on me as a head coach.

“We were fortunate to catch a couple of breaks during the third and then just started pounding the ball after that juncture to break the game open.”

Trailing 2-1 on the heels of Buc catcher Ashlyn Klinkner’s second-inning solo home run and another Blue Earth Area run via a Fairmont error in the third, Brylee Miller jumpstarted the Cardinals’ offensive performance from the leadoff spot during the home half of the third.

Miller, who walked and eventually scored on Tegan Livesay’s RBI single in the first at-bat, was plunked by Buc starting pitcher Olivia Dutton before Dutton issued back-to-back walks to Anna Ehlert and Livesay to load the bags.

Rahm, who went 3-for-4 with a game-best four RBIs, drilled a single past Bucs’ shortstop Kylee Eckmann, who made subtle contact with Ehlert between second and third on the grounder.

“I thought maybe the umpires would rule interference, but Anna did stop before she reached the shortstop and tried to avoid contact,” said Hainy.

With the bases loaded, Chantel Moeller drilled a hot grounder to third that was thrown into foul territory along the right-field line to plate three Fairmont runs and leave Moeller at second base.

Emily Muller singled, Ava Gillmore walked and Ashley Muller collected an RBI on a fielder’s choice to give the Cardinals a 6-2 lead.

Miller, who went 2-for-2, lined a single up the middle to produce two of her three RBIs before Ehlert contributed an RBI hit.

Livesay, who went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, hammered another single before Rahm collected two RBIs with a hit for an 11-2 lead after three completed frames.

After Miller retired the Bucs’ side in order during her relief pitching performance in the top of the fourth, Fairmont plated six runs — all with two outs — to earn the “walk-off” win.

Emily Muller singled and eventually crossed the plate on Ava Terfehr’s clutch pinch-hit RBI triple with two outs in the home half of the fourth.

Miller followed with an RBI single, Ehlert belted a run-scoring double, Livesay crushed an RBI single, Rahm smacked a run-producing double and Klunder singled home Rahm with the game-sealing RBI single.

Rahm allowed two runs — only one earned — on two hits, struck out five and did not issue a walk in three innings of work to earn the victory for the Cardinals.

Miller recorded strikeouts against all three Buc batters she faced during the top of the fourth.

Erika Gaydon singled and eventually scored the Bucs’ second run when Eckmann reached on an error in the top of the third inning.

Fairmont (2-0) travels to St. James Area today, while Blue Earth Area (0-3) plays host to St. James Area on Monday in Blue Earth.

BEA           01(01) 0 —   2  2 4

FMT          10(10) 6 — 17 15 1

Olivia Dutton (LP), Kylee Eckmann (3) and Ashlyn Klinkner. Nevaeh Rahm (WP), Brylee Miller (4) and Ilana Moeller.

LOB–Fairmont 4; Blue Earth Area 1. 2B–Anna Ehlert (FMT), Nevaeh Rahm (FMT). 3B–Ava Terfehr (FMT). HR–Ashlyn Klinkner (BEA).

Abi Sundeen produced three hits, including the “walk-off” home run, to power Fairmont to an 18-6 triumph over Blue Earth Area during junior varsity action Thursday in Fairmont.

Makayla Lowry generated three hits for the Cardinals, while teammates Gabby Leiding, Reece Olson and Saige Leiding each tallied two hits in the winning performance.

Makenzie Lowry, Tiffany Lowry, Brooklyn Murphy, Jadyn Musser and Jayda Healey each supplied one hit for the Cardinals.

Makayla Lowry struck out five in three innings pitched to earn the victory for Fairmont (2-0). Saige Leiding fanned one in two innings of relief.