Aside from the rematch this past Saturday being a cloud-free, sunny afternoon, the stakes were much higher. The winner received the honor of Big South Conference Champion.

It was Fairmont getting the upper hand this time around. Using an explosive third inning and a stellar relief pitching performance from Joseph Hackett, the Cardinals exacted their revenge on Marshall to the tune of a 4-2 victory, claiming the program’s second conference title since the 2023 season.

Marshall defeated Fairmont for last season’s Big South Conference championship, 4-2.

“I’m just very happy with this team,” Fairmont head coach Don Waletich said. “Our team chemistry has been so good lately, and I’m so happy for our seniors. Coming into this game, we were a bit low on arms, one of our players was gone and infielders were playing outfield. It was just one of those games where you hope to compete, and these guys didn’t flinch at all and stuck with the adversity.”

Photo by Jake Olson: Marshall's Chase Alcorn (left) and Ethan Weedman (right) hi-five one another on Saturday against Fairmont in the Big South Conference Championship.

Things started off eerily similar to the last game between these teams at the top of the first, with Marshall using some timely hitting to draw first blood and plate a run. That possibility never seemed fathomable with how Fairmont starting pitcher Joe Long looked after the opening two batters. Long looked sharp and aggressive after fanning both Andrew Stelter and Levi Maeyaert in just eight pitches.

But a walk from Chase Alcorn followed by a passed ball immediately put danger on the basepaths for the Tiger offense. Trae Bailey capitalized on the early mishap by driving a ball over the head of Cardinal right fielder Vincent Schultz for an easy RBI triple.

Long again found himself in trouble at the top of the second. The early command from the righty trailed off against the bottom of Marshall’s lineup, who drew three walks in the first four batters to load the bases for the lead-off hitter, Stelter.

However, that’s all the noise the Tigers’ offense would make that frame. The mix of Long’s timely pitching and Fairmont’s sharp defense was enough to wiggle out of the log jam.

Five pitches later, Fairmont first baseman Jensen Livesay made a nifty play in foul territory to secure a flyout near the fence. Second baseman Brayden Williamson then continued to flash his impressive leather to deliver the final out, stopping a hard grounder to his left before converting on the throw.

Photo by Jake Olson: Marshall's Andrew Lee throws a pitch on Saturday against Fairmont in the Big South Conference Championship.

Marshall’s inability to score any runs in this sequence felt deflating. It felt like the momentum was back on Fairmont’s side.

“The bases-loaded inning there with their one and two hitter up, and he got those two out, that was the game right there,” Waletich said. “Credit to him [Joe Long], he battled through that inning and gave us a chance.”

Another scoreless, and much cleaner, third inning from Long continued to keep the Tigers at bay for Fairmont to respond. Marshall starting pitcher Noah Pieper had been unhittable during his opening two frames, piling up three strikeouts with just one walk. But the second time through the Cardinals’ batting order proved costly for the sophomore. It gave Fairmont’s offense enough time to settle in and find a rhythm.

Schultz got the party started by ripping an easy double into the left-center field gap. Walks from Merritt Pomerenke and Livesay stuffed the basepaths for No. 3 hitter Joey Crissinger, who used his power to tower a ball deep into center field for a two-run RBI, lead-changing double.

Hackett delivered the exclamation point with a two-run RBI triple that cleared the basepaths and gave his team a 4-1 lead. A Fairmont offense that had been hitting a hot bat entering Saturday finally showed its strength.

Photo by Jake Olson: Marshall's Andrew Stelter takes a swing on Saturday against Fairmont in the Big South Conference Championship.

“The guys adjusted after the second time around,” Waletich said. “We got a couple of good pieces of wood on it and had some timely hitting today.”

Marshall added one back a frame later after Stelter brought in Eli Alcorn from second for Long’s second allowed run of the game. But, Fairmont evaded any further damage after Pomerenke’s incredible diving play in center field sent the game to the home half of the fourth.

Long’s afternoon was done after his strikeout of Chase Alcorn to open the fifth was followed by a walk by Bailey. His stat line showed four and one-third innings pitched with three hits, six walks and three strikeouts.

Hackett then took off his catching gear, tossed out a few warm-up throws and prepared to pitch. While the senior hasn’t logged many innings this season, he ended up being the driving force for Fairmont closing out the victory.

He wrapped up his two and two-thirds pitching performance by escaping a mini-jam in the top of the seventh. After walking Maeyaert and Chase Alcorn, Hackett forced Bailey to a weak fly-out to Schultz in right field. The Cardinals were atop the conference once more.

Fairmont and Marshall will wrap up their respective regular seasons this week. The Cardinals will host Worthington at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, while Marshall will play East Ridge at 4:00 p.m. today in Green Isle.