Vikings splits 4 games with Redlands, beats Connors State

The Carl Albert State College baseball team split its four-game series with Redlands Community College as the Vikings and the Cougars split each set of doubleheaders.

On April 17 in El Reno, the Vikings took the opener 6-3 but dropped the nightcap 14-10.

Last Saturday at Mark Pollard Park at Ival Goodman Field, the Vikings took Game 1 by the score of 5-2 but lost 9-7 in Game 2.

On Monday in Warner, the Vikings outlasted the Connors State Cowboys 13-10.

In the road win over Redlands, the Vikings (30-16) rallied from a 2-1 fourth-inning deficit with a three-run fifth inning and two-run sixth inning to take the lead for good at 6-2.

For the game, Royce Florenzano was 2-for-4 with his fourth and fifth home runs of the season and three runs batted in, Connor Cox was 2-for-4 with his first homer of the season and two RBIs, Blake Vanderburg doubled and scored once and Rayian Torres doubled for the Vikings.

Gage Elliott (8-1) got the win, going the first 5.2 innings with three strikeouts. Jaxon Spangler went the next 1.1 innings with a strikeout.

In the road loss to Redlands, the Cougars rallied from a 9-5 fifthinning deficit with a four-run fifth inning, a run in the sixth inning and a four-run seventh inning to take a 14-9 lead.

In defeat, Kip Christian was 2-for-5 with his sixth and seventh homers of the season and six RBIs, Dominic Ornales was 2-for-4 with his third homer of the season, two RBIs and two runs scored, Tucker Wooten was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, Vanderburg doubled and scored twice and Cox doubled and scored once for CASC.

Seth Hubbard (0-1) suffered the loss, going 3.2 innings in relief with three strikeouts. Blake Lindsey got the start and went the first inning. Wyatt Sammons went the next 11 innings. After Hubbard, Tanner Mullins got the next two outs, one by strikeout. Madden Dillard for the final four outs, three of which came by strikeout.

In Saturday’s win, the Vikings broke a scoreless tie with single runs in the third and fourth innings for a 2-0 lead. After the Cougars cut the deficit to 2-1 in the sixth inning, the Vikings sealed the deal with a three-run sixth inning.

For the game, Christian was 2-for-4, Alexander Nirider was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored and Brooks Herrera was 2-for-2 with a double, his fourth round-tripper of the season, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Vikings.

Chase Stevens (4-0) got the complete-game win, getting three strikeouts and throwing a four-hitter.

In Saturday’s loss, the Cougars snatched away a win from the jaws of defeat with a three-run eighth inning.

In defeat, Christian was 3-for-4 with two doubles, his eighth homer and two runs scored, Jett Frazier was 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored and Torres was 2-for-4 with a run scored for CASC.

Spangler (2-3) took the loss in relief, going two innings with three strikeouts. Frazier got the start and went three innings with a strikeout, then Duke Walker went the next three innings with six Ks. Dillard went the final inning.

In Monday’s win, the Vikings rallied from a 9-8 deficit with a fiverun eighth inning to get the come-from-behind win.

For the game, Herrera was 4-for-5 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI, Torres was 3-for-6 with a run scored, Florenzano was 2-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI, Keypher DeLeon was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Wooten was 2-for-6 with his first homer of the spring and five RBIs, Ornelas was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs and Christian doubled and scored twice for the Vikings.

Hudson Birch (2-0) got the win in relief, going two innings. Carter Norris got the start and went the first three innings, followed by Landon Donaho, who went the next inning with two strikeouts. Mullins went the next innings, and Florenzano went the final two innings with three Ks.

The Vikings were slated to return to action with a four-game, twoday series with Northern Oklahoma College-Enid, with Thursday’s doubleheader at Enid’s David Allen Memorial Ballpark, and the final two games being played at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mark Pollard Park at Ival Goodman Field before the Vikings play archrival Eastern Oklahoma State College in a single, nine-inning game at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Wilburton.