Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. -- Every player in the Rice batting order had at least one base hit and the fourth-ranked Owls combined to tie a season-high with 16 hits on the way to a 9-3 win over eighth-ranked Cal State Fullerton in the second game of a three-game weekend series Saturday evening at Goodwin Field in Fullerton, Calif. With the series now tied 1-1, the finale is slated for 2 pm Sunday at CSUF.

Rice put a run on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning and proceeded to score in six of the nine frames. In the first sophomore Jess Buenger duplicated his home run swing from the night before and blasted a two-out solo shot over the right field wall for a 1-0 Rice lead.

Junior catcher Danny Lehmann was hit by a pitch to lead off the second and he advanced to second on a base hit to right by Diego Seastrunk. Tyler Henley was hit by a pitch with two away to load the bases and a walk to Brian Friday stretched the margin to 2-0.

In the bottom of the third inning Cal State Fullerton's Clark Hardman hit a two-out single and a walk to Joel Weeks moved him into scoring position. Jake Vasquez drove him home with a base hit to right to make the score 2-1.

The Owls added two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 advantage. Joe Savery laced a single over the second baseman's head and sophomore Aaron Luna slugged an opposite field home run to right.

CSUF answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. A hit batsman and back-to-back singles loaded the bases with nobody out. Vasquez looped a ball into shallow left field that looked like would drop for hit and score a couple of runs. A spectacular diving catch by Friday at shortstop put an out on the board and kept the runs off. Starting pitcher Ryan Berry then converted a tricky ground ball up the third base line into a second out by throwing home for a force. With the bases still loaded the Titans scored on another hit batter and base on balls to make the score 4-3. Rice caught the Titans on an attempted steal to get out of the inning, but with no further damage.

The Blue & Gray continued to apply the offensive pressure in the top of the sixth. Chad Lembeck led it off with his first home run of the season. His solo shot cleared the netting that extends high over the left field wall. Friday drew a walk with one away and he went to third base on Buenger's single into right. Savery tied a career-best with his third hit of the day. He ripped a ball up the middle to score Friday and margin was back up to three, 6-3.

Rice wasn't quite finished and added three more runs. In the seventh Seastunk doubled home Dodson after a leadoff walk and he scored on a base hit up the middle by Henley. Seastrunk then singled home Luna in the eighth for a 9-3 final.

The Owls improved to 11-5 on the season while the Titans fell to a matching record of 11-5. The finale of the series is scheduled for a 2 pm start (Central time) and will be broadcast live on the radio in the Houston area on 91.7 FM (KTRU).