Photo by Jake Olson: Marshall pinch runner Cody Rauch rounds third in the fourth inning of a Sub-State G Junior Legion Baseball Tournament game against Fairmont on Wednesday at Wolverton Field in New Ulm. Marshall defeated Fairmont 3-2.

MANKATO – Marshall Junior Legion Black edged Fairmont Junior Legion Post 36, 3-2, in the opening round of the DI Sub-State G Junior Legion Baseball Tournament on Wednesday at Wolverton Field. 

The back-and-forth Bracket G contest showed the resiliency of Marshall head coach Chace Pollock’s squad following an early deficit.

In the fourth inning, however, mistakes from the Fairmont defense proved to be too costly. 

Marshall’s one-out rally started with Jackson Sirovy and Noah Frazee reaching base via an error and a walk. After a pop-up put two outs on the table, nine-hole hitter Ethan Weedman poked a ball into the outfield that would clear the bases, putting Marshall on top 3-2 for the first time all afternoon.

The star of the contest was the relief pitcher Frazee. After entering the game in the fourth inning for Kraft, Frazee tossed four frames of scoreless baseball. He racked up eight strikeouts and limited Fairmont to one hit. 

“He did an outstanding job,” Pollock said on Frazee’s performance. “Our starter, Tyler, talking to him in that second inning, he said he was just tired. I don’t know if it was the heat today or something else, but his body wasn’t ready. Noah clearly was. Glad to have him in our back pocket to go to.”

After both teams felt each other out in the first inning, Fairmont drew first blood while capitalizing on a handful of Marshall mishaps. 

A fielder’s choice and a walk started the rally for Fairmont with two outs on the board in the second. After an errant throw over to first base, both runners advanced, immediately putting pressure on Marshall starting pitcher Tyler Kraft. 

Fairmont’s Preston Geerdes put an exclamation point on the opportunity. Ripping a ground ball up the middle, Geerdes brought in both runners to take the early advantage. 

Despite going down early, Pollock’s confidence in his team never wavered. 

Marshall responded immediately during their half of the frame. Putting the offense in his own hands, Trae Bailey sent a ball deep over the right field wall to cut the Fairmont lead in half. 

“In the first game of the tournament, there are always some jitters whether you are ahead or behind,” Pollock said. “We were ready to go.”

Both teams missed chances to score during their next trips to the plate. 

With one out in the top of the third, Fairmont’s Joseph Hackett slashed a triple into center field to start a potentially big inning. Mason Bicknase followed this up by stealing second base after getting hit by a pitch. 

Despite the threat on the basepaths, Kraft worked out of the jam by generating two quick outs to avoid any danger. 

“Joseph getting stranded at third after his triple was huge,” Fairmont head coach Brian Hackett said. “They had just hit a home run to pull within one. Getting that back would have given a two-run cushion again.”

Marshall started their half of the inning by taking advantage of an error and a walk with no outs recorded. After a sacrifice bunt from Ethan Boeck advanced both runners, another walk from Fairmont starting pitcher Bicknase loaded the bases. 

Much like Kraft, Bicknase settled into the pressure. Generating a pair of weak pop-ups, Fairmont walked away from the frame maintaining their one-run cushion. 

Bicknase ended his outing at six innings, allowing one earned run and generating three strikeouts.

“Mason pitched great,” Hackett said. “He got in trouble a couple of times but was able to pitch out of it.” 

Marshall and Fairmont await the results between Mankato American and Mankato National, with the second round beginning Thursday. Marshall will play the winner, while Fairmont plays the loser. 

Marshall’s game will be played at 2:30 p.m. at ISG Field in Mankato against the winner of No. 3 Mankato American and No. 6 Mankato National. The battle of the Mankatos was changed to 9 a.m. today due to weather.