Times Observer photo by Scott Kindberg (above) West Fargo shortstop Ian Skari fields a groundball during Tuesday’s game.

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Trailing undefeated Ohio Valley Regional champions Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 5-4 in the top of the seventh inning, the Midwest Plains Champions West Fargo, North Dakota needed to make something happen if it wanted to keep its Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series hopes alive.

West Fargo (1-2) proved ready for the task, as it made a whole lot of something happen in the seventh inning, scoring three runs against Eau Claire (3-1) on the way to an eventual 7-5 victory.

Ian Skari got the inning going with a leadoff single, followed by a stolen base. Brody Medina laid down a bunt single to get Skari over to third and stole second to really put the pressure on Eau Claire. Austin Ohleen knocked in the equalizer with the third straight single of the inning, scoring Skari.

The runs didn’t stop there, with Kaisen Nordick grounding out to second base, but still driving home Medina with the eventual winning run. The dagger came in the next at-bat with Cason Borchardt getting to first safely courtesy of an error at shortstop that also scored Ohleen, making it 7-5.

Eau Claire managed to get out of the inning, even after loading the bases with one out. However, the damage had been done as West Fargo quickly got out of the bottom of the seventh unscathed for its first tournament win.

All of the West Fargo runs came in its first and last chance at the plate. Four runs were scored in the top of the first and the final three in the top of the seventh. West Fargo was led offensively by Medina and Skari with two hits and a walk each. Medina and Ohleen both scored twice, while Borchardt had two RBIs. Medina was the winning pitcher.

Prior to a rain delay, Eau Claire held the one-run lead. Cashton Kainz stood out offensively as the only Eau Claire player with multiple hits and runs scored at two each. Keegan Catt, Blake Risler and Tyler Barrow each had one RBI. Austin McGraw pitched five innings of the game, coming in for relief of Catt. Both surrendered two earned runs and gave up a combined nine hits.

Eau Claire locked up the top seed in the American Division with the early victory against the Jamestown Krusaders, taking away some of the sting from the loss. West Fargo will play for the moral victory at 5 p.m. today against Southwest Region champions Tallassee, Alabama. Both teams have been eliminated from the single-elimination portion of the tournament, which begins Thursday.