ABOVE: Fairmont's Makayla Lowry takes a lead off third as the Marshall pitcher delivers a pitch in a Big south Conference softball game Friday night in Fairmont.

FAIRMONT – An explosive third inning pushed The Fairmont Cardinals past the Marshall Tigers for an 11-1 in six innings the opening game of the season in a Big South Conference softball game Friday.

“It was good to get out here, first of all. First game under our belts,” Fairmont head coach Cory Hainy said. “I don’t know if you played this thing a couple days ago with how wet it was, but it’s still nice to get out here. I can tell we were jittery the first couple of innings; we kicked the ball around in the first inning but got away without giving up any runs. So it was good.”

Leading the Cardinals was Ilana Moeller, going 3 for 4 with four RBIs, while Makayla Lowry went 3 for 3. Gabriella Leiding went 1 for 3 with two RBIs, while Abigail Sundeen went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Madison Landin, Brylee Miller, and Alexis Sundeen all had an RBI. Miller pitched six innings, striking out seven and allowing one hit.

Opening the first inning, Naya Grahn sent a ground ball down the third base line, making it to first base. An overthrow to first base opened the path to second base, but the Cardinals threw Grahn out as their attempt to advance failed. Cardinal pitcher Brylee Miller then walked two batters, giving the Tigers a runner in scoring position. Jaylah Morgan stepped into the box, but with two out, Miller’s pitch placement was enough to earn a strikeout swinging to get the Cardinals out of the top of the inning.

Makaya Lowry drove a ball to short for a single to get the offense going for the Cardinals. The Tigers responded with a quick two outs before Alexis Sundeen singled on a fly ball, bringing in the first run of the night.

Marshall continued to have problems with Miller’s pitching, who walked one and struck out three to get the defense off the field. The bottom of the second was a mirror image for the Cardinals, who left one baserunner stranded as the score remained 1-0.

In the top of the third, the Tigers were unable to get the offense going, and the Cardinals retired the side in order. The Cardinals quickly put two on base, and back-to-back walks brought in the second run for Fairmont.

A sacrifice fly off of the bat of Madison Landin put the Cardinals up 3-0.

Abigail Sundeen hit an RBI single to center for the fourth run for the Cardinals. Following the score, Ilana Moeller drove a ground ball to left field, bringing in two more runs, putting Fairmont up 6-0 and closing out the scoring for the inning.

The fourth inning was more of the same for Marshall. One base runner was stranded, and the defense was back on the field. A leadoff single by the Cardinals set up an RBI single to short by Miller, which put the Cardinals up 7-0. The Tigers were able to get two outs on the board, but an RBI single by Gabriella Leiding brought Miller home and the Cardinals were up 8-0.

The Tigers scored their only run of the night in the top of the sixth after Bailynn Parson reached on a lead-off walk. Aaliyah Podratz took Parsons’ place first and was able to score when Jaylah Morgan drove a ball to third, causing an error and making the score 8-1.

The bottom of the sixth saw two Cardinals on base quickly, after which a ball looped to left field by Moeller brought in two runs. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Cardinals when a wild pitch allowed Bria Williamson to score, triggering the mercy rule and ending the game.

Now 1-0, the Cardinals host Blue Earth Area for a 5:30 p.m. game on Monday.