Submitted photo/Morningside Athletics: Sam Hanson, a former Southeast Valley athlete, delivers a pitch for Morningside earlier this season.

SIOUX CITY — Following his time at Southeast Valley High School, Sam Hanson envisioned himself as a starting pitcher in college.

Safe to say he’s done just fine as the closer for the Morningside University baseball program.

Hanson, a redshirt senior, has embraced his role out of the bullpen, helping lead the Mustangs to another 30-plus win season and a Top 3 seed in the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament this week.

“I love the bullpen life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Hanson said. “I do appreciate the fact I am the guy. I’m electric, I’m high effort, and I don’t take any pitches off.”

Hanson entered the week tied for the GPAC lead with seven saves while also picking up three wins. He owns a 10.8 strikeouts-per-game rate and has allowed just five earned runs in conference play.

“He has a live arm with really quality stuff,” ninth-year head coach Adam Boeve said. “He is a guy who pitched through our JV system and made a mark for himself.

“He’s determined and has a great head on his shoulders. It’s awesome to see his career come together, and it’s fun to hand him the ball in late-game situations.”

With depth in the bullpen, Hanson’s outings have typically been brief. Since conference play began March 11, he has gone two-plus innings twice, including Saturday against Doane.

“I’m just very humbled to be in this role, and it is amazing to do that for my guys,” Hanson said. “It feels great to have an established bullpen you can trust. With how clean my innings have been, I feel like I can put up a zero against anybody.”

Hanson’s arsenal previously centered around a fastball and changeup, but over the winter he developed a slider — now a key piece of his approach, especially in two-strike counts.

“I don’t have to hope for a groundout, so I can go attack hitters, which is really nice,” Hanson said. “It changes things for me to be a power pitcher.”

His preparation is just as unique. Hanson doesn’t dwell on the game early, instead locking in as it reaches the late innings. Once Boeve gives him the signal to warm up, Hanson flips what he calls “panic mode,” a mindset that prepares him for the chaos of a save situation.

That mentality is exactly why Boeve trusts him in the role.

“He wants the ball at all times,” Boeve said. “When you feel like the game is on the line, he wants the big moment. When times are tough, you want guys to trust their stuff, and that’s his mindset. Adding that slider has elevated his game.”

Hanson’s role looks much different than his senior season at Southeast Valley. In 2021, he led the Jaguars with 937 pitches, held opponents to a .144 batting average, and finished with 81 strikeouts.