ABOVE: Gabby Seiding kicks up dust as she delivers a pitch during Tuesday’s game against Blue Earth Area.

FAIRMONT — After finishing a previously suspended game, the Fairmont Cardinals softball team beat Big South Conference rival Blue Earth Area (BEA) 10-0 in five innings Tuesday.

In April, a contest between the two teams stopped after the third inning due to darkness with Fairmont ahead 27-2. Though BEA mounted a charge with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, the score was 28-5 at the end of four innings and the mercy rule went into effect.

Fairmont head softball coach Cory Hainy said this provided him with a unique opportunity for his team.

“I think it was a good opportunity for us to get some of our younger girls some at bats,” he said.

The second game had its first action in the bottom of the second inning. Fairmont’s Ilana Moeller started the inning with a walk off of BEA pitcher Ava Grant. After Makayla Lowry came in to run, Gabby Leiding hit a single to drive Lowry home.

After a double from Grant in the top of the third could not be capitalized on, the Cardinals began to open up the floodgates. Gwyneth Schultz hit a triple to lead off the inning. A walk by Brylee Miller, a sacrifice fly from Lexi Sundeen and singles by Moeller and Gabby Leiding led to three runs. The buck stopped there with a flyout by Saige Leiding.

Five runs came in the bottom of the fourth for the Cardinals. After a single from Schultz brought in a run, Miller sent in Moeller and Schultz on a triple. A second Lexi Sundeen sacrifice fly scored Miller.

The run ended with Moeller hitting a double for pinch runner Makayla Lowry to get her second run. A strikeout ended the inning, which stranded Saige Leiding and pinch runner Bria Williamson.

With the score at 9-0, Makenzie Lowry, Schultz and Miller each got singles to lead off the bottom of the fifth. The next batter Lexi Sundeen was hit by a pitch. This forced Lowry to come home and the mercy rule to come into effect.

In the circle, Gabby Leiding had a shutout. She faced adversity in the first and second innings with two singles, but she stranded the runners on third each time. Both times she was able to rally and secure the outs by flyout and lineout. In the next three innings, she gave up one hit each. She ended the game with seven strikeouts and hits allowed.

Hainy said these stats reflected Gabby Leiding’s ability to get them out of a jam and help them cruise to victory.

“I was a little worried about a letdown after we had a big emotional game last night,” Hainy said. “We were a little slow coming out of the chute, but turned it on once we got going about the third inning. We scored, cut a few runs and then coasted from there.

Leading the charge for Fairmont was Brylee Miller, going 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs. Lexi Sundeen had three RBIs and Gabby Leiding finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

The Cardinals (12-4) have their next games Saturday in Windom starting at 9 a.m. They’ll play New Ulm Cathedral first, followed by Minneota/Canby.