CASC drops last two in regional after Holzhammer’s gem

Carl Albert State College’s baseball team was unable to sustain its magic after a strong start in its Region 2 tournament at Enid, going out in three games.

Matt Holzhammer of Wister brought his best stuff in his first appearance on the mound in 12 days as CASC won its first game 9-1 against Western Oklahoma State College on Thursday.

Holzhammer pitched 7.1 innings, holding the Pioneers scoreless until their third hit scored a few batters after he left in the eighth inning. He threw 11 strikeouts and allowed two walks.

Matt Schilling hit a home run in the fifth inning. He finished 2-for-5 with three runs batted in.

Preston Curtis went 4-for-5 with a ninth-inning solo home run and five runs batted in. Curtis started the scoring with a two-run double in the fourth inning and added a two-run double in the seventh.

Jon Shaffer had a hit and two walks.

The Vikings totaled 12 hits and three walks.

On Friday against Northern Oklahoma College-Enid, CASC lost 12-2 after trailing 10-0 through two innings.

Shaffer hit a two-run double in the fifth inning.

He and Breck Burris each had a hit and a walk.

CASC managed only four hits and three walks.

Justice Hayes threw three strikeouts in 2.2 scoreless relief innings.

On Saturday, Bryson Myers of Poteau attempted to advance the Vikings in his final start for them, but they lost 11-3 to South Arkansas Community College.

CASC trailed 6-0 by the top of the fourth inning.

The Vikings tallied all three of their runs with two outs in the bottom half of the fourth.

Conner Wyatt and Blake Chambers scored on an error. Reed Carroll stole homoe.

Myers allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while throwing four strikeouts.

Coby Greiner pitched six relief innings, throwing five strikeouts.

Schilling went 2-for-4 with a walk.

Chambers and Wyatt also had two hits. Curtis had a hit and a walk.

The Vikings totaled eight hits and seven walks. They left eight runners in scoring position.

CASC was without one of its better hitters during the regional as Chance Noah of Red Oak suffered a facial fracture the week before.

The Vikings ended the season 23-36. They averaged 5.8 runs per game while hitting .269 with a .377 on-base percentage (104th in NJCAA Division II). They were ninth in NJCAA Division II with 66 home runs and 19th in walks with 255.