Spirit Lake, Ia (Northwest Iowa Now) – The Spencer Baseball team traveled north to Spirit Lake for an important Lakes Conference matchup with it’s top two teams, both undefeated in league play at 4-0.

It was Luke Schneider getting the start for Spirit Lake, and Spencer was able to strike early in the top of the 1st with an Aiden Severson RBI single that drove in Jack Berends.

Severson would eventually score on a throwing error and Spencer led 2-0 after the first inning.

In the Bottom of the 1st inning, Shafer Heffner laced a double to Center, and trouble with the cutoff throw advanced Shelton Bendlin in to score.

The Tigers led 3-0 going in to the bottom of the 1st.

Spencer ace George Lawson took the mound for the Tigers, and after a scoreless 1st inning was rouged up well in the 2nd. After two runs had already crossed the plate, JD Schneider, one of the State’s top hitters, would drive in Jax Berjarno to tie it at 3.

Spirit Lake would strike for 4 more runs on top of that in the 2nd and take a 7-3 lead going in to the 3rd.

After being held in check in the top of the 3rd, Spencer would allow another run on a Sacrifice Fielders Choice bunt by Luke Schneider, making it 8-3 in favor of Spirit Lake.

The Tigers would come storming back in the top of the 4th, started by a Jack Berends 2 RBI double.

Aiden Severson also ripped a double a couple batters later after a Spirit Lake pitching change to bring in George Lawson.

After Spencer took a 9-8 lead going in to the bottom of the 4th, Jackson Knutson tied it with a big swing.

Spirit Lake eventually got the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 5th on a Terry Sexton soft RBI single, and Kaleb Johnson would lock down the Tigers from there, throwing 3.2 innings in relief, only giving up 3 hits, 1 earned run and striking out 6 to collect the win.

Spirit Lake now takes sole possesion of 1st place in the Lakes Conference race with the 10-9 win against Spencer.

The Tigers will try to even up the season series on Thursday when Spirit Lake comes to Andy McGaffin Field.

 

Box Score

R   H  E LOB

Spencer         9   7   4   7

Spirit Lake  10  10  5   5

 

WP: Kaleb Johnson 3.2IP 3H 1R (1ER) 1BB 6K

LP: George Lawson 4.2IP 9H 10R (8ER) 2BB 2K

 

Jackson Knutson (SpL): 2R 2H 2RBI HR SB

Jax Berjarno (SpL): 2R 2H 1RBI

Aiden Severson (Spn): 2R 3H 2RBI