File photo by Travis Rosenau From this April 30, 2026, file photo, New Ulm catcher Candon Briggs catches a foul ball behind the plate during a home baseball game against Waseca at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM — Michael Walker’s one-out RBI single in the top of the eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie and Walker then shut down New Ulm in the bottom of the inning as Orono edged the Eagles 4-3 Thursday in a nonconference baseball game at Johnson Park. Walker got the win in relief, going the last three innings. He allowed no runs on two hits and struck out four for the number two team in Class AAA.

Candon Briggs took the loss for the Eagles, now 12-6. He pitched the eighth inning.

Tanner Backer started for the Eagles and went seven strong innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and fanned nine.

Jack Munsch had two hits for for the Spartans with Rory Kvern driving in two runs with a third-inning home run.

Levi Hopp had two hits for the Eagles.

“This was a good game,” New Ulm head coach Jeff Ferrell said. “Tanner threw his heart out and the [tying] run in the [seventh] came when he fielded a ball and slipped — it was a tough play.”

The Eagles, who play Tuesday at Mankato East, held a 3-2 lead with two outs and a runner on second.

Easton Ahrens then dribbled a slow roller that was cleanly by Backer, who slipped on the wet grass and his throw sailed down the right field line to tie the game and setting up Walker’s eventual game-wining hit.

New Ulm had taken a1-0 lead off of Orono starter Blake Tichy in the bottom of the first.

Zach Hubbard singled and stole second. A Levi Hopp sacrifice bunt moved Hubbard to third and an Owen Castleman groundout scored Hubbard.

Orono took a 2-1lead in the top of the third.

Munsch led off with a single off of Backer and took second on a John Kelly sacrifice bunt. Backer got the second out of the inning on a strikeout.

But Kvern deposited a 1-0 Backer offering over the fence for a 2-1 Spartans lead.

“He [Backer] got a pitch up on the ball that went out.” Ferrell said. “But that happens.”

But the Eagles came back to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth.

Dirk Haynes singed and Ryan Rathmann beat out a bunt single.

Both runners moved up on a passed ball with a fielder’s choice tying the game before a Kyle Albrecht single had New Ulm holding a 3-2 lead.

“Our kids played hard but we fell short.” Ferrell said. “These are the kind of games that you need if you are going to go far in a sectional tournament you have to execute plays.This was a good competitive game for us. We will be ready for sectional games.”