ABOVE: Fairmont's Josh Soelter delivers a pitch in a nonconference baseball game against Esko Friday night.

FAIRMONT – The Fairmont Cardinals fell to an Esko comeback on Friday night as the Eskos scored four in the seventh to win 6-2 in a nonconference baseball game.

Esko tied the game up in the top of the sixth inning and added four more in the seventh to complete their comeback.

“It was a great baseball game,” said Fairmont head coach Don Waletich. “It was with two very good teams, and they’re a very good team, and they had to get 21 outs, and today we pushed them to the limit at the end. But give them credit, they’re a very good team and a good barometer for us, so I thought we kind of see where we’re at, see what we got to get better at, but I like where we’re at, and we’re gonna be OK.”

Joe Long led the Cardinals, going 2 for 2, while Joseph Hackett went 1 for 3. Brayden Williamson went 1 for 4, while Luke Haefner went 1 for 3.

Starting pitcher Josh Soelter only gave up four hits and no runs through five innings.

The first inning showed that this game was going to be a defensive battle between the two teams. The Cardinals quickly forced a ground out to third, but the Eskos were able to drive a ball to center for the game’s first base runner. A fly out to left, followed by a quick out on a dropped third strike, sent Fairmont to the plate. A leadoff single to right field off the bat of Williamson got the offense going for the Cardinals, but despite getting two on base, they could not capitalize as they stranded two at the end of the inning.

Despite each team getting two runners on in the second inning, neither was able to control the scoreboard. Fairmont retired the side in order in the top of the third inning, giving the Cardinals’ offense a chance to get going.

The Cardinals struck in the bottom of the third. Haefner gave the Cardinals a base runner, driving a ground ball to third for a single. Soelter sent a ball to right field and reached on an error before a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third. Haefner scored on a ball that got away from the Esko catcher to put the Cardinals up 1-0.

With runners on first and third, some creative base running forced Esko to decide to get the runner at first or at home, and when the decision was made, Haefner stole home, claiming Fairmont’s second run of the game.

The teams ran into a defensive stalemate for the next two innings. The Cardinals were able to keep Esko off the scoreboard, but they were unable to add to their lead and the score remained 2-0.

It was the top of the sixth inning when the Esko offense got rolling. Esko reached on a leadoff single, which was immediately followed up by a double to right field that put runners in scoring position. A hard ground ball back to the mound forced the out at first but allowed the first run of the night for Esko. Three consecutive walks tied the game up, but a fly out to center field got the Cardinals out of the inning.

Despite getting two on base in the bottom of the inning Fairmont was unable to regain the lead.

The first two batters of the seventh inning put the ball in play and reached base safely, before a line drive to right and fielding error added two runs to the tally for Esko. Up 4-2 a sacrifice bunt that advanced the base runners which was followed by a RBI triple to right field extended the lead to three runs. A sacrifice fly to center gave Esko its final run of the game going up 6-2. The Eskos retired the side in the bottom of the inning to lock in the victory.

Haefner took the loss in relief, giving up four hits and four runs with a strikeout through 1 1/3 innings.

Fairmont heads to Luverne for a 5:30 p.m. game on Monday.