ABOVE: Fairmont’s Joe Long attempts to pick off the runner at first in a Big South Conference baseball game against Tri-City United at Herb Wolf Field Monday evening.

FAIRMONT – The Fairmont Cardinals comfortably defeated the Tri-City United Titans 13-3 Monday in five innings, courtesy of three consecutive four-run innings and a Joseph Crissinger walk-off RBI in a Big South Conference baseball game.

“I just did the job, got the run in, hit the double over his head, which I wanted to do,” said Crissinger.

Leading the Cardinals was Mason Bicknase, who went 1 for 2 with three RBIs, while Josh Soelter went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Joseph Crissinger went 1 for 2 with an RBI, while Luke Haefner went 1 for 3 with two RBIs. Joe Long struck out three through five innings, giving up three runs on four hits.

“It was really good to see Joe Long back on the mound,” said Fairmont assistant coach Levi Becker. “We missed that. He was one of our main guys last year. He definitely commanded the mound and he’s going to be huge for us going forward. Hitting-wise, today was one of those games where you put the ball in play and make them make mistakes and that’s what they did.”

It was a quick 1-2-3 fourth inning for both teams, sending the Titans back to the plate to try and get something going against a brick wall in the Fairmont defense. The Fairmont defense held strong and retired the side in order in the top of the fifth inning. A single by Soelter put the game-ending run on base in the bottom of the fifth inning when Crissinger stepped to the plate. Patiently waiting for his pitch, Crissinger was ahead in the count 3-0 before launching a ball to deep left field off the fence after the Titans fielder failed to track it down for a walk off RBI.

The Titans’ offense got rolling early after a leadoff single by Kellen Jirik on a drive to left field put the first man of the night on base. Parker O’Malley managed to reach on an error after Cardinal catcher Joseph Hackett threw out a runner trying to steal second. With runners on second and third base, a fly ball to right field put the Titans up 2-0 before Long could strike out the batter, closing the inning.

Not content with the scoreboard, the Cardinals quickly got runners on in scoring position when Soelter looped one to right field that got away from the right fielder and brought in Fairmont’s first run of the game. Crissinger stepped to the plate and sent a hard ground ball that found the gap, tying the game. Soelter scored on a ball that made its way by the Titans’ catcher before Bicknase drove a ball on the ground to third, extending the lead to 4-2 before two strikeouts ended the inning.

The Titans were sat down quickly in the top of the second inning, leaving one runner stranded. The Cardinals went right back to work in the bottom of the inning. Long got the offense going with a line drive single to left field. Long bolted for second base on a passed ball before Williamson sent a ground ball to third, scoring the run and reaching on an error by the Titans. A single by Hackett had runners at the corners for the Cardinals when Soelter sent a ground ball to short,

scoring a run and reaching on an error. A walk loaded the bases for Fairmont when Bicknase popped a ball out to center field for an RBI single. Haefner followed suit this time, sending a ball to right field that got away from the fielder, allowing a run to score to put the Cardinals up 8-2.

A leadoff single in the top of the third got the Titans started, but the next two batters getting out put the Titans at risk of stranding yet another runner. Nathan Blashko was hit by a pitch, moving the runner into scoring position. An RBI single on the ground to right brought in the run before the Cardinals tagged the second runner coming home for the third out.

A walk started the bottom of the third for the Cardinals. Williamson reached on a dropped third strike as Long stole third before a passed ball allowed the run to score, further extending the Fairmont lead. A single by Soelter was followed by a walk that loaded the bases when Bicknase took ball four, bringing in a run. Haefner stepped to the plate hitting a ball hard on the ground over second base to center field scoring two runs to put the Cardinals up 12-2.

“This is a great baseball group of guys,” said Becker. “They played together for many years growing up. We’re just going to keep this thing rolling.”

Fairmont now 10-1 hosts Blue Earth Area for a 5:30 p.m. game on Tuesday.