Spirit Lake, Ia (Northwest Iowa Now) – Spencer traveled up to Spirit Lake on Thursday night to try and avenge their only Lakes Conference loss so far this season after falling to Spirit Lake 4-3 on Monday.

The Tigers got out quickly in the top of the first inning with the first 4 batters getting base hits. Trenton Hallett drew first blood by driving in Jace McCormick with a single.

Shafer Hefner, in his first start of his Varsity career, knocked in George Lawson the next at bat, then both Hallett and Hefner would be brought in by Maxx Techen’s 2 RBI single.

Spirit Lake was able to get a run back in the bottom of the 1st inning after Jackson Knutson drove in Wes Walz.

Spencer neutralized that run in the top of the 2nd with a Jace McCormick Solo-Shot to make it 5-1.

Aaden Techen had a great night on the hill, responding to giving up the 1st inning run by holding Spirit Lake in Check in the 2nd.

It was a rough defensive inning for Spirit Lake in the top of the 3rd, giving up 5 runs, only two of them earned after a couple of errors. Spencer led 10-1 going into the bottom of the 4th.

Techen retired the Spirit Lake side in order for the remainder of the night. The Tiger offense didn’t slow down at all, throwing up 7 more runs in the 4th inning, including Shelton Bendlin picking up his 3rd and 4th RBIs of the evening.

With the 17-1 lead, Aaden Techen had Grant Meyer Line out, then struck out Max Barthman and Landon Johnson to end the game in 4 innings via the 15-run mercy rule.

Techen got the win in his start against Spirit Lake, now 3-1 on the season, he threw all 4 innings, allowed 3 hits, 1 earned run, walked 1 and struck out 8. Luke Schneider absorbed the loss for Spirit Lake in 3.1 innings of work, allowing 9 Spencer hits, 12 runs, only 8 of those were earned, he walked 1 and struck out 8 as he falls to 0-2 on the year.

The Tigers totaled 17 runs on 12 hits, had 1 error and left 4 on while Spirit Lake got 1 run on 3 hits, had 3 errors and left 3 on base.

Spirit Lake falls to 3-8 on the year and 2-4 in the Lakes Conference. They will be back in action on Tuesday at home against Cherokee.

Spencer improves to 8-5 this year and 5-1 in the Lakes Conference. They go to Fort Dodge on Friday for a Neutral site meeting with Harlan at the Harlan Rodgers Sports Complex.