Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm Legion Blue shortstop Luke Scheid makes a throw to first as second baseman Jack Fairbairn looks on in the background during New Ulm’s game against Fairmont on Monday in Sleepy Eye. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

By Travis Rosenau

Journal Sports Writer

SLEEPY EYE — New Ulm Blue sneaked away with an 8-7 win against Fairmont Post 36 on Monday night in Sleepy Eye.

Brendan Bieraugel got the no-decision start on the mound for Blue, allowing one unearned run on four hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Sam Schwieger received the loss for Fairmont with six innings of work. He allowed six hits and six walks for six earned runs, while striking out three.

Blue got into the run column first in the third inning after a two-out base hit to right by Jack Fairbairn.

Fairmont then had three-straight hits from Nate Kallenbach, Lance Becker and Brady Allen to start the bottom of the third. An error in left field allowed Kallenbach to score and tie the game at 1-1, but Bieraugel escaped the bases-loaded jam without allowing any more damage.

Blue took a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning after a two-run single from Luke Scheid.

Blue led 7-1 after the top of the fifth, led by a two-run single to right from Shane Esser.

Fairmont trailed 7-6 after a wild seventh inning that saw Blue commit two errors and reliever Tyler Walls throw three wild pitches along with five walks. There were no hits in the inning and Walls still managed to pick up the win afterward with four innings pitched.

Fairbairn helped out again in the eighth, this time on an RBI double to give Blue an 8-6 lead.

Fairmont took the run back in the bottom of the inning on a fielder’s choice RBI by Jeb Green.

Brandon Seidl had four hits for Blue and two runs scored.

Blue moves on to playoff action at 5 p.m. on Wednesday against the No. 1-seeded Mankato National in Sleepy Eye.