Photo by Jake Olson: Jack Hested of the Fairmont Martins deals on the mound during Wednesday night's home opening contest against the Jackson Bulls. The Martins 10-7 victory moves their record to 2-0 on the season.

FAIRMONT – Lance Becker picked up three hits, one of which being a two-RBI home run in the sixth inning, to help power the Fairmont Martins past the Jackson Bulls 10-7 during their home opener of the 2026 season.

The Bulls used a pair of errors from the Fairmont infield in the third inning to tack on three runs and jump to a quick 3-1 advantage. They added two more scores in the fifth frame after RBI hits from Tyler Netsch and Carter Snyder found the outfield.

However, the Martins’ third time through their batting order brought the offensive firepower. After Spencer Chirpich and Luke Becker drew a pair of opening walks, Fairmont picked up four consecutive RBI hits to reclaim the lead, 7-5, after the fifth.

Adam Schmidt got things going with a shot to left field that sent him comfortably into second base. Zach Jorgensen and Lance Backer put together two more line drive doubles before Levi Becker capped things off with his second of three hits.

Jackson was able to churn two runs of its own in the top of the seventh after Netsch scored on a passed ball before Alex Bretzman sent a sacrifice fly to center field on the same at-bat. But this was all they could muster.

Schmidt, Jorgensen and Chirpich tallied the final four innings on the mound and allowed just two hits and four strikeouts. Fairmont added an additional insurance run in the eighth after Schmidt’s lead-off walk turned into a passed ball score on a Will Larson wild pitch.

Fairmont’s batting order wrapped up the contest with 10 hits and eight drawn walks, striking out 11 times. Jack Hested finished his start with five innings and struck out eight. Two of his five runs allowed were earned.

With this victory, the Martins move to 2-0 on the year and will aim to stay unbeaten this Sunday against the Pipestone Athletics and Hadley Buttermakers at Laurie Mahon Memorial Field. The first pitch is at 2:00 p.m., with the second game estimated to start at 5:00 p.m. Fairmont will return home on Sunday, June 7, to face the Worthington Cubs.