ABOVE: Fairmont's Gwyneth Schultz takes the ball to first base after fielding a grounder during a Section 2AA Softball Tournament game against Le Sueur-Henderson Tuesday at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Photo by Ari Selvey.

PREP SOFTBALL

LE SUEUR-HENDERSON 4, FAIRMONT 2

NORTH MANKATO – The Fairmont Cardinals finished their season with a close 4-2 loss to Le Sueur-Henderson Tuesday in the Section 2AA Softball Tournament elimination bracket semifinals at Caswell Park.

After four innings, Le Sueur-Henderson had the lead 4-0. The Cardinals fought back in the sixth and seventh innings.

The sixth saw Makayla Lowry hit a home run with one out to make it 4-1. Makenzie Lowry doubled on a fly ball to left field, but an infield pop up ended the run.

The seventh opened with another Fairmont home run, this time from Brylee Miller. Two strikeouts and a groundout ended the game for the Cardinals.

Miller and Makayla Lowry went 3 for 4 and 3 for 3, respectively, with an RBI each. Miller also pitched a complete game, having five strikeouts and three earned runs allowed.

GIRLS GOLF

SLEEPY EYE UNITED 400, SPRINGFIELD 413, MOUNTAIN LAKE 420, ALDEN-CONGER 460, MADELIA 465, GIBBON-FAIRFAX-WINTHROP 468, UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL 471, GRANADA HUNTLEY EAST CHAIN-TRUMAN-MARTIN LUTHER 472, MARTIN COUNTY WEST 482, NEW ULM CATHEDRAL 529

NORTH MANKATO – In a ten-team Section 2A Girls Golf Tournament opener Tuesday, GHEC-T-ML and MCW finished eighth and ninth, respectively at North Links Golf Course.

While neither team advanced to next Monday’s final round at North Links, two players from each team did. Elsa Thompson and Josie Moeller qualified for GHEC-T-ML with a 113 and 114, respectively, while Brenna Heifner and Morgan McCorkell moved on for MCW with a 110 and 112, respectively.

All four qualifying girls play the second round Monday morning back at North Links.

PREP BASEBALL

NORTH UNION 19, WEST BEND-MALLARD 8

GILMORE CITY – The North Union Warriors got their first win of the season against West Bend-Mallard 19-8 Tuesday.

The game was a nail-biter through the fifth, with North Union and West Bend-Mallard trading blows to make it 7-7. The sixth and seventh innings proved to be the deciding factor, as North Union would score 12 runs while West Bend-Mallard would score one.

Max Merrill went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs, while Casey Rezac went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs.

In four innings of work, Merrill had five strikeouts and three earned runs allowed. Cooper Hoye closed the game out in the final inning with two strikeouts.

The Warriors (1-1) have their next game Wednesday versus North Iowa at 7:30 p.m. at the North Iowa Field.