Fairmont's Merritt Pomerenke takes the lead from third base during the Big South Conference vs. New Ulm baseball game Thursday at New Ulm High School.Photo: Ali Selvey
NEW ULM — New Ulm freshman left-hander Tanner Bakker used his arm to keep Fairmont off the scoreboard for six innings.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, he used his bat on the New Ulm High School field to lead the Eagles to a Big South Conference victory.
The helper sent Cardinals relief pitcher Ben Maurer's first pitch into the gap in right-center field, scoring Aiden Jensen from second base and giving New Ulm a 1-0 victory.
Colton Ackman, who relieved Bucker in the top of the seventh inning, got the win, and New Ulm improved to 4-6 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
The helper pitched through the first six innings, allowing three hits while recording seven strikeouts.
Fairmont University freshman Jensen Livesey was blamed for the Cardinals' loss, which fell to 8-6 overall and 5-4 in conference action.
Livesay pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and five strikeouts. Livesay had a no-hitter until the sixth inning.
“Today was a great game for our team.” Ulm's new head coach, Mike Anderson, said: “We got engaged, we threw strikes, we put our gloves on the ground, we made perfect plays. So did Fairmont, it was a great game. And both of our starting pitchers are freshmen.”
And both Bakker and Livesey shut down the opposing team's attacks.
Fairmont attacked from backer in the first and third innings, putting a runner on third base, but was unable to score.
And in the fourth inning, the Cardinals had a runner on second base. But Bakker again saved the day, finishing the inning with two strikeouts.
Fairmont head coach Don Waletich said his team couldn't find a hit in the game.
“I didn't get a timely hit, but that's just baseball.” He said. “But you have to give them credit. They pitched a really good game. Jensen pitched a great game as well.”
Anderson said Bakker was a boy's man.
“When he stands up and throws strikes, he doesn't get hit hard.” Anderson said. “And he got himself out of some tight spots and sometimes did it on his own. He bunted down the left side and got out of the tight spots.
“For a 15-year-old, he plays controlled. And he won the double of the year. [in the seventh] And I couldn't be more proud of him. ”
Anderson was also pleased with the play of center fielder Landon Barstad, who was making his first start for the national team.
“He got Gane's first hit in the sixth inning. He's been practicing hard for us the last two weeks.” Anderson said. “He earned his way to being a starter by being himself and being himself.”
The teams will meet again on Tuesday at Fairmont at 5:30 p.m. to face each other again.
