Staff Photo by Caleb Brinton. Fairmont's Nolyn Goerndt tries to beat out a throw after laying down a bunt in a game against Windom at Herb Wolf field on Thursday.

FAIRMONT – A four-run first inning by the Fairmont Cardinals took the wind out of the Windom Eagles’ sails in a Big South Conference baseball game Thursday night as the Cardinals earned a 5-3 win.

The win for Fairmont has extended its win streak to seven games, and the Cardinals now sit at 8-1 on the season.

“Luke Haefner pitched a very nice ball game for us today,” said Fairmont head coach Don Waletich. “Very, very, very good quality start for us, so we’re real pleased with that, and Joe Long got his first action on the mound as well tonight. He did a nice job closing it for us, so it’s good to see. We stranded a lot of runners tonight, but figured out a way to win I guess, and that’s what it’s about.”

Leading the Cardinals was Nolyn Goerndt, who went 1 for 2 with an RBI, while Josh Soelter went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Mason Bicknase added an RBI, while Luke Haefner went 1 for 3 with an RBI and struck out four through six innings, giving up five hits.

Luke Haefner got to work early on the mound for the Cardinals in the first inning, but a leadoff single by the Eagles on a line drive to left put the first base runner on. The runner was thrown out trying to steal second, followed by Jackson Joyce being hit by a pitch to keep a runner on. A double on a fly ball to center brought in the first run for the Eagles before the Cardinals got out of the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, the Cardinal offense got rolling with back-to-back singles from Brayden Williamson and Joseph Hackett for Fairmont’s first two base runners of the game. Josh Soelter then sent a fly ball to center for a game-tying RBI double. Haefner then drove a ball to left field for an RBI double, gaining the lead by bringing Hackett home. The Cardinals were not done scoring as Soelter scored on a passed ball before Bicknase got a sacrifice fly to put Fairmont up 4-1.

Windom put the ball in play in the top of the second, but the Cardinals’ defense shut the Eagles down, maintaining the lead and getting out of the inning. Despite getting a runner on, the Cardinals did not extend the lead in the bottom of the inning.

The top of the third inning was more of the same for the Eagles, as the offense struggled against the Fairmont defense, stranding a runner. The Cardinal offense struck again in the bottom of the inning, getting the first two batters on base when Goerndt sent a hard ground ball to right for an RBI single before the Eagles were able to get out of the inning.

Stranded runners were the story of the fourth inning. Both teams managed to get on base but were ultimately unable to capitalize. This trend continued to the top of the seventh as both defenses remained steadfast, but Windom tried to get a rally going, scoring two runs before reliever Long popped up the final batter to lock in the win.

“We’re just trying to get better every play, every inning, every day kind of thing and just stay consistent with what we do,” said Waletich.

The Cardinals head to Windom for a 5:30 p.m. game on Friday.