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March 5, 2008

Box Score

FRISCO, Tex. -- For the second time in as many days, the Rice baseball team lost a one-run decision due to a late rally by the opposition.

Dallas Baptist designated hitter Andrew Pirtle slugged a walk-off, solo home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift the Patriots to a 7-6 win over the visiting Rice baseball team Wednesday evening at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Tex.

Pirtle, who entered the game as a substitute back in the bottom of the ninth inning, hit the first pitch over the right field wall at the minor league stadium to break a 6-6 deadlock. His second homer of the season dealt the Owls their second late-inning loss in as many days after falling to Sam Houston State 13-12 on Tuesday evening.

Rice wraps up the two-game spring break road trip with an overall record of 6-4. Dallas Baptist improved to 6-3. The Owls return home to Reckling Park to host the annual Rice Invitational presented by Academy Sports, which runs from Thursday (Mar. 6) through Sunday (Mar. 9).

Much like Tuesday's game at Sam Houston State, Rice jumped on the scoreboard for three runs in the top of the first inning. Singles by Jared Gayhart and Chad Mozingo with a fielder's choice from Diego Seastrunk put runners on the corners. The Patriots were careful working to Aaron Luna, and the junior from nearby Southlake Carroll drew a walk to load the bases. Gayhart scored on a passed ball that allowed Seastrunk and Luna moved up an extra 90 feet. J.P. Padron bounced into a fielder's choice on the right side that DBU fielded cleanly, but a throw to try to get Luna at third skipped away. Luna trotted home and Owls were up 3-0.

DBU scratched out a run on two hits and a walk in its half of the first. Ryan Enos hit safely to right and Austin Knight's sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position. Enos took third on a fly out to center and he scored when Ryan Goins punched a hit through the left side.

The Owls added single runs in both the second and third innings. Jimmy Comerota led off the second with a walk and he hustled all the way to third on the first career hit by freshman catcher John Hale. Gayhart drove Comerota home with a sacrifice fly for the team's fourth run. In the fifth inning, Padron singled with one-away and he scored after hits by Rick Hague and Comerta that stretched the margin to 5-1.

The Patriots used the longball to put a pair of runs on the board in the fifth. Knight started it with a leadoff walk and centerfielder Evan Bigley knocked his second home run of the season to make the score 5-3.

Rice loaded the bases in the seventh on a pair of hit batsmen and a single by Luna. Hague drove in the Owls' sixth run with a sacrifice fly. That was all the Blue & Gray could score, but the team needed only to keep DBU in check for the final three frames.

DBU came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 6-6. The Patriots collected three hits and walk to make it a whole new game to start the eighth.

Rice still had some late chances putting its leadoff man on base in the ninth, tenth and 12th innings. Dallas Baptist worked out of the jam each time. The Owls did the same on defense in the tenth when a strikeout by freshman Matt Evers stranded runners on second and third.

The Owls next meet Michigan State in home tournament play on Friday, Mar. 9. First pitch with the Spartans is set for 4:30 pm.