Neil Holland

Height:
6-0
Weight:
190
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Owensboro, Ky.
High School:
Owensboro Catholic

2009: Made 15 appearances out of the Cards' bullpen and earned the starting nod for the mid-week win at Kentucky. Had one save with a 3.80 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 23.2 innings. Extended his career-best scoreless streak to 8.0 innings with 3.0 shutout innings of relief against Vanderbilt in the NCAA Regional on May 31. Gave the Cards' 2.1 innings of scoreless relief at BIG EAST Championship. Recorded the final four outs in the Cards' title game win over UConn and had a perfect ninth inning in their second round win over Notre Dame. Pitched 1.0 scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout on May 12 at WKU. Recorded two outs and allowed only a hit in a short relief appearance on May 10 at St. John's. Pitched 1.0 perfect inning of relief in Cards' May 5 win over Ohio State. Made his first start of his career on April 28 at UK allowing one unearned run on two hits in 1.2 innings. Allowed three runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of relief against Notre Dame on April 25. Pitched 2.2 innings of relief at IU on April 21 allowing two earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Was a pinch runner and played one inning in left field earning one putout against IU on April 7. Picked up his second career save with 3.0 innings of scoreless relief at Cincinnati on April 3. Also had career-high five strikeouts and allowed only three hits in the save at UC. Recorded a pair of outs at Seton Hall on March 28. Pitched 1.1 innings of perfect relief in the Cards' win over Evansville on March 24. Had a tough outing on March 6 against Milwaukee allowing four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings. Did have a season-high three strikeouts in the UWM game on March 6. Retired the final hitter of the game in win over Western Michigan on March 4. Made first appearance of the season with 1.2 innings of work against Bowling Green on Feb. 28.

2008: Took the hill 19 times as a freshman, picking up a save and striking out 35 in 31.1 innings during his first season of college baseball. Picked up two more strikeouts in another scoreless inning in win over BSU on May 13. Struck out a pair in two scoreless innings at WVU on May 10. Worked a scoreless inning in win over Butler on May 7. Combined on a shutout of Morehead on April 29 with a career-long three scoreless innings. Notched his first career save with 1.1 hitless innings, securing series opening win over Villanova on April 18. Tossed a solid 2.0 scoreless innings of relief at USF on April 13. Saw action away from the mound for the first time, scoring as a pinch runner in win at USF on April 11. Struck out the side in order in the 8th after fanning the last batter of the seventh in win over Marshall on April 9. Had his longest outing of his career with 2.2 strong innings against SJU on April 4. Tossed two scoreless frames in win over Butler on March 26, striking out two. Retired all four batters he faced against Tennessee on March 19, striking out a pair. Sealed the win over Kent on March 14 with a scoreless ninth. Tossed a scoreless 1.1 IP at The Citadel on March 1. Made an impressive debut out of the pen, striking out one in 1.2 innings of one-hit baseball against CSU on Feb. 24.

High School: Posted a 31-6 record on the hill with 12 saves and 260 strikeouts in his prep career, earning First Team All-State as a senior. A three-time All-Region and All-District selection, Holland played for the East vs. West junior All-Star team. The Aces won the All A State Championship in 2005 and 2007 and he was named to the All-Tournament team. State runner-up in `06. A Third Team All-State receiver, lettering four times in football and twice in swimming. A three-time academic All-State selection. Batted .455 as a junior, while going 10-2 on the hill with a 1.33 ERA. Was 8-2 with an 0.89 ERA and 98 strikeouts his senior season. His biggest thrill in athletics was playing football in the state championship game at Louisville's Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Personal: Born in Owensboro, Ky., to Lynn and Sara Holland on 8/14/88. Has a younger sister. Has declared sport administration as his major at U of L. His father is his greatest influence on him athletically. His hobbies include paintball, racquetball, ping pong, playing cards and hanging out with friends. Ocean's 11 and 13 along with Saving Silverman are his favorite movies. Likes to watch That 70's Show on TV. His favorite athletes are David Eckstein and Jerry Rice. Lists bread and butter as his favorite foods. Also likes to eat at Texas Roadhouse. Cheers on the Colts and the Angels. Listens to all kinds of music. His dream golf foursome would be Barry Bonds, Bill Gates and the Incredible Hulk. Is no relation to Cardinal teammate Nate Holland.