SQUARING UP — Fairmont’s Emma Gudahl squares up in the batter’s box before legging out a bunt hit during Big South Conference softball action against Worthington on Tuesday night at Cardinal Park in Fairmont. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Fairmont head softball coach Cory Hainy lightheartedly asked Worthington senior ace right-hander Haley Grimmius before Thursday’s Big South diamond clash if this was her final high school season.

“I really don’t want our team to have to face her anymore. She’s so tough inside the (pitcher’s) circle,” a smiling Hainy said in reference to the hard-throwing Grimmius, who will pitch and play first base for Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. next season. “We (coaching staff) challenged our players to compete better and we actually had more quality at-bats, which sounds odd against a pitcher who struck out 17 today.”

Grimmius notched her second-best seasonal strikeout total, walked only one and allowed just two hits in seven innings worked to power the Trojans to a 2-0 victory over Fairmont at Cardinal Park.

Ironically, Grimmius recorded a season’s-best 18 strikeouts in a 1-0 triumph over the Cardinals on April 21 to sweep the two-game series this spring.

Grimmius struck out the first consecutive Fairmont batters for a perfect first three frames before Allison Janssen drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth. Janssen swiped both second and third bases, but was stranded.

“In a close game like this, that’s huge — stranding all three of our runners at third without getting a run out of any of them,” said Hainy.

Emma Gudahl spoiled Grimmius’ no-hit bid by legging out a bunt hit before alertly sprinting to third base, but was stranded in the sixth inning.

Cassidy Schultz hammered a two-out double to deep left field in the Cardinals’ seventh at-bat, but did not score either.

Grimmius paced her pitching victory by scoring both of the contest’s runs off RBI singles by Hannah McNab in the first and fifth innings, respectively. Grimmius walked to open the game, took second on Olivia Hayenga’s bunt hit and crossed the plate on McNab’s hit to center.

Grimmius was hit by a pitch with one out in the fifth, moved to second on Hayenga’s second hit of the game and circled the bases on McNab’s drive to right-center.

Fairmont’s defense did, however, turn a pair of double plays on the game. Gudahl speared a line-drive off Lauren Nelson’s bat in the first and doubled off the Trojan runner at third base by flipping to Anna Ehlert.

Gudahl flashed more leather in the field during the sixth by robbing Saige Scheepstra of a hit by corraling a liner at short and firing to first base for the inning-ending double play.

Janssen allowed two runs on five hits, struck out five, hit two batters and walked one in 4 1/3 innings pitched to take the loss. Nevaeh Rahm fanned five and did not issue a walk while allowing just one hit in 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Cardinals.

Fairmont (2-7) opens the Windom Invite against the host Eagles at 9 a.m. Saturday, while Worthington (4-2) plays host to Waseca in a 10 a.m. doubleheader Saturday in Worthington.

WOR 100 010 0 — 2 6 1

FMT 000 000 0 — 0 2 2

Haley Grimmius (WP) and Madeline Petersen. Allison Janssen (LP), Nevaeh Rahm (5) and Jaya Johnson, Chantel Moeller (5).

LOB–Worthington 7, Fairmont 3. 2B–Cassidy Schultz (FMT).

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Gabby Leiding and Brylee Miller combined to first a five-inning shutout to pace Fairmont’s 16-0 rout over Worthington during junior varsity action Thursday in Fairmont.

Leiding struck out four batters in three innings pitched, while Miller recorded six strikeouts in two frames of relief.

Miller also smacked four hits, including a pair of doubles, to top Fairmont, while Leiding and Abi Sundeen generated three hits apiece.

Chloe Miller, Johanna Petschke and Haleigh Grotzinger added two hits each to the double-figure margin of victory by Fairmont (3-4).

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Martin County West 13, St. Clair/Mankato Loyola 12 (8 innings) — Emily Anderson’s sacrifice fly plated Thea Anderson with the game-winning run in extra innings to help the Mavericks outslug the Cyclones in Valley Conference action Thursday at the Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

Thea Anderson smacked three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in a game-best three runs to top MCW’s 15-hit attack, while Lina Arnold collected three hits, including a pivotal two-run single during a four-run bottom of the seventh inning that helped force extra innings.

Taylor Elliott hammered two hits, including a two-run HR in the third inning, to pack punch to the Mavericks’ effort, while Hailee Schuett and Paige Anderson each finished with two hits and one RBI.

Anderson contributed two RBIs on the strength of one hit for MCW, while Ella Carlson delivered a key double in a pinch-hitting role.

Anderson allowed one hit and walked one in pitching the eighth inning in relief to net the win for the Mavericks.

Martin County West (4-3) opens the Windom Invite against New Ulm Cathedral at 9 a.m. Saturday in Windom.