ABOVE: Fairmont’s Brylee Miller is shown in her windup during the Cardinals’ game against the Blue Earth Area Bucs on Thursday. Kylee Eckmann of the Bucs hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the eighth inning to drive home Berkley Hagedon and break a 7-7 tie and give the Bucs the 8-7 victory. Photo courtesy of Kevin Mertens.

BLUE EARTH — Fairmont battled back from a 7-1 deficit, but Blue Earth Area got the last word in after Kylee Eckmann’s game-winning single in the eighth inning lifted the Bucaneers to an 8-7 win in a Big South Conference softball crossover game.

Fairmont scored four in the sixth to tie the game, Olivia Dutton, who pitched all eight innings, closed things down late. Dutton allowed seven runs and walked one while striking out eight.

Taylor Klabunde and Berkley Hagedorn led BEA with three hits apiece, while Eckmann added two hits.

Fairmont was led by Brylee Miller’s three-hit, three-RBI day at the plate, while Neveah Rahm, Makenzie Lowry and Haleigh Grotzinger each had two hits.

Miller also pitched the complete game, allowing two walks while striking out nine.

Fairmont (1-3, 0-1) hosts St. James Area on Friday, while BEA (4-1, 0-0) is at St. James on Monday.

PREP BASEBALL

Fairmont 8, BEA 1

FAIRMONT — Fairmont took home a 8-1 win over Blue Earth Area Thursday in a Big South Conference baseball game Thursday at Fairmont High School.

Joe Long earned the win for Fairmont, striking out nine with no walks and four hits allowed in seven innings pitched. Nate Soelter had three hits and four RBIs with a home run to lead the Cardinals at the plate, while Levi Pooley had two hits and an RBI.

Taylor Davids took the loss for BEA, striking out seven while allowing eight hits and six earned runs in five innings. Peyton O’Hara had a hit and an RBI for the Bucaneers, while Caleb Langer, Davids and Noah Dahl each had a hit.

Fairmont hosts Esko on Friday. BEA hosts Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on Saturday.

PREP TENNIS

Southwest Christian 6, Fairmont 1

FAIRMONT — Southwest Christain defeated Fairmont 6-1 in a nonconference spring tennis match Thursday at Fairmont High School.

Fairmont’s No. 2 singles Anthony Stegge defeated Southwest Christian’s Benny Strain 5-7, 6-4, 10-5 for the team’s lone win. For Soutwest Christain, No. 1 Mateo Scheibel defeated Dominic Lund-May 6-1, 6-3, while Southwest Chritain No. 3 singles Brock Walmer defeated Fairmont’s Sebastian Castro 6-0, 6-1 and Southwest Christian No. 4 singles Davis Wurst defeated Fairmont’s Reed Wegner 6-0, 6-0. Southwest Christain No. 1 doubles Cameron Thomas and Evan Johnson defeated Fairmont’s Carter Quist and Tyler Slama 6-2, 6-3 and Southwest Christian’s No. 2 doubles London Johnson and Isaac Wilson defeated Fairmont’s Oliver Theden and Wylee Frederikson 6-1, 6-2. Southwest Christian’s No. 3 doubles Carter Engholm and John Tucker defeated Fairmont’s Lilly Ortega and Zach Ashland 6-1, 6-1.

Fairmont (1-1) will play in the St. James Tournament on Saturday.