ABOVE: Fairmont's Mason Bicknase rifles a ball to first base in a Big South Conference baseball game Thursday against Luverne at Herb Wolf Field.

FAIRMONT – In a game that saw just five hits, the Fairmont Cardinals got the job done against the Luverne Cardinals with a 2-0 victory in a Big South Conference baseball game Friday evening at Herb Wolf Field.

“We knew they’re one of the better teams in our section,” said Fairmont head coach Don Waletich. “So we knew that we were gonna be in for a heck of a game today. And Carter Sehr is their number one guy, and he’s a very good pitcher. And so I thought we did a phenomenal job. … Good pitching, really good defense, and timely hitting is what we had today. And that was the difference. Just a very well-played baseball game by two good teams.”

Sehr finished the game pitching six innings and striking out two in the loss.

Josh Soelter pitched all seven innings for Fairmont and gave up two hits while striking out one.

Leading Fairmont at the plate, Joseph Crissinger went 1 for 2 with an RBI, while Luke Haefner had an RBI.

Fairmont opened the first inning, forcing a groundout back to the mound that Soelter fielded for the first out. A flyout to left field got Fairmont the second out, but Luverne tried to get the offense going after hitting a deep fly ball to center field. Despite having a runner on third, Fairmont got the next batter to close the top of the first inning.

The Fairmont offense got its shot to get things going, but the defensive play of Luverne sat down the first two batters before Soelter sent a ball to deep center for a triple that was followed by a walk. With runners at the corners, Luverne managed to get the third out on a groundout to the third baseman.

Soelter and the Fairmont defense sat down the side in order in the top of the second inning courtesy of two groundouts and a flyout. Luverne’s leadoff batter reached on an error to start the third inning, but that would be all the offense could do before two flyouts and a groundout put them back on defense. A leadoff single, a line drive to third by Brayden Williamson, got Fairmont the first man on for the inning, and a sacrifice bunt advanced him to second. Luverne decided to walk Soelter, and with two on a single by Crissinger on the ground to left field brought home the first run of the night for Fairmont. Haefner sent a ground ball to third base, bringing in the second and final run of the game to put Fairmont up 2-0.

The fourth inning was a quick one-two-three inning for both teams. Fairmont kept Luverne off of the scoreboard, and Luverne kept the lead at two runs.

Luverne managed to get a runner on from a single to left field, but it was unable to capitalize. Instead, they hit a ground ball that turned into a double play. Luverne’s defense retired the side in order to end the fifth inning.

The sixth inning was quick as both teams retired the side in order. Fairmont was trying to lock in the victory but a walk brought the tying run to the plate, but the Fairmont defense focused and quickly got the next two outs stranding the runner.

Fairmont, now 6-1, heads to St. James on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. game.