Exira-EHK BB Blanks IKM-Manning, 3-0, Behind Hansen’s 12 K, 2-Hitter

Exira-EHK's Alex Hansen (6-18-25)

Exira-EHK BB Blanks IKM-Manning, 3-0, Behind Hansen’s 12 K, 2-Hitter -

(6-18-25) - They may start spelling Alex with a “K” in Elk Horn.

The Spartans Alex Hansen put on a 12 strikeout, 2-hit shutout performance at a time his team needed it the most as Exira-EHK earned a 3-0 win over the Wolves.

Hansen talked about the importance of getting the win.

“It's huge. I mean, it gets our momentum going. We get excited to practice, excited for games. We start loving sport of baseball even more.”

IKM-Manning had the bases-loaded with nobody out in the 1st and Hansen got a strikeout, a pick-off, and another strikeout to get out of the jam. He then retired the next 9 batters and didn’t allow a hit the rest of the way to give Exira-EHK just their second win on the season.

The Spartans got all three of their runs in unconventional ways. With the bases loaded and 2 down in the 1st, Blake Nelson was able to convert a steal of home after a safety squeeze attempt was missed and Nelson got to home in the attempted rundown. Exira-EHK then scored in the 4th on back-to-back errors by the Wolves and a wild pitch.

The scrappiness of his team gave Hansen an extra boost on the mound.

“It makes it so much better. They gave me a little cushion. If I mess up, I know I'm good because I know we can score some runs. So, when we’re doing our little scrappy plays and we can get our extra runs, it makes you feel safe on the mound. I can throw harder. I can throw a little wilder. Throw faster.”

Kasche Huehn and Brock Kusel had the only hits for IKM-Manning, who fell to 5-10 on the year.

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