New Ulm now plays Fergus Falls at 2 p.m. Friday in the next round of the tournament. Fergus Falls erased a seven-run deficit Thursday to beat Bloomington 9-8 in the first round of the tournament.

Tanner Backer picked up the win for New Ulm, striking out six while allowing four runs on five hits in six innings of work. At the plate, Hunter Larson was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Ryan Rathmann was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Zach Hubbard was 1 for 2 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and Kyle Albrecht had a hit and two RBIs.

Also key for New Ulm Was Parker Neubauer, who hit two doubles and scored a run on offense while making two diving catches in left field defensively.

Neubauer said it was a special feeling to be able to rise to the occasion and contribute to a team victory with the stakes so high.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Parker Neubauer celebrates a double during the opening round of the DI Junior Legion State Tournament against Chanhassen Thursday at Red Haddox Field in Bloomington.

“It’s always big,” Neubauer said. “Especially when you play Chanhassen. Chanhassen’s a big name, and New Ulm, well, we’re just a small town. When you contribute like that and can be a key, it feels good.”

Things didn’t start out perfect for New Ulm, however, as Chanhassen put up three runs in the top of the first. New Ulm missed a few plays defensively as Chanhassen racked up three hits and drew two walks.

“If we’re honest, the lights were a little bright for us,” New Ulm head coach Mike Anderson said. “We played a little hesitant and we made a few mental mistakes that we normally don’t do. But what this group did is what it has done all year. They never felt like they were out of it, they reset, they took it one at-bat at a time, one pitch at a time. We kept playing our game.”

Backer and the New Ulm defense recovered and put together three innings where they only allowed a single runner on base on a walk in the second.

“Tanner, he’s got a sore back,” Anderson said. “He’s out there, in pain, laboring through physically and giving us a chance to win against any team. That team [Chanhassen] … They’re a very high-level team and I couldn’t be more proud of [our] resiliency once again.”

New Ulm took over offensively, scoring three runs in the second and four in the fourth.

“The key is just bouncing back quick,” Neubauer said. “We didn’t die after that first inning, letting up three runs. We just kept on hitting the ball, and we never died in the dugout. The bench is a big part, they’re always loud. That’s what we need out there.”

Neubauer was the first to score for New Ulm in the second, doubling and being brought home on a single by Larson. Rathmann scored on a single by Hubbard, and Larson came home on a sacrifice by Cohen Domeier.

Rathmann continued the scoring in the fourth, singling and coming home on a single by Hubbard. Larson and Candon Briggs scored on a double by Albrecht, then Hubbard came home on a wild pitch to take a 7-3 lead.

Chanhassen picked up a run in the fifth inning, loading up the bases and drawing a walk for a score, but Backer shut down the inning with a strikeout. Chanhassen loaded the bases once more in the sixth, but a ball hit directly back at Backer was fielded and thrown to first for the third out as well.

New Ulm added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, with Hubbard drawing a walk and coming home on a single by Domeier. Neubauer got one of his diving catches to start out the seventh, where Domeier entered in relief and retired the side in order for the win.