     
• Roster html • Roster pdf  • Statistics html • Statistics pdf • Schedule/Results html • Schedule pdf • Schedule Downloads • Triple Play Dinners • C-USA League Notebook • C-USA Baseball Accomplishments
• Head Coach Wayne Graham • Assistant Coach Mike Taylor • Assistant Coach Dave Pierce • Assistant Coach Patrick Hallmark • Director of Baseball Operations Lee Ann Lassiter
• Web Page
• Live Audio/Video
• Reckling Park • Directions
• Camps web site (NEW!) • Kids' Birthday Parties At Reckling Park • Kids Take Over the Park • Prospective Student-Athlete Questionnaire 
There are no upcoming events. Check back soon!
|
Owls Hang On For 7-6 Victory Over UCF Sunday To Claim Weekend Series
April 27, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Senior J.P. Padron went 3-for-4 and scored two runs to lead a 13-hit Rice attack, and senior closer Cole St.Clair thwarted a would-be UCF rally in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Rice baseball team claimed a 7-6 Conference USA win over the Knights in the finale of a three-game weekend league series Sunday afternoon at Jay Bergman Field in Orlando, Fla. The fourth-ranked Owls won the series two-games-to-one to improve to 34-11 on the season and a league-leading 15-3 in C-USA action. The team enters the University's final exam period on a winning note, but Rice had to battle the Knights (27-18, 5-13) for a second one-run win in less than 24 hours. The Owls didn't get their first base-runner until the third inning and their first hit until the fourth when the team put something together for a big four-run frame. The Blue & Gray did the damage with two outs already recorded in the inning. Padron was hit by a pitch and back-to-back singles by Diego Seastrunk and Jimmy Comerota put the first run on the scoreboard. Chad Mozingo walked to load the bases and designated hitter Derek Myers drew a walk to force in Seastrunk for the second score. Rice still had the bases loaded, and Aaron Luna laced a hit through the middle of the infield to drive in two more and extend the lead to 4-0. UCF answered with a two-out rally of its own in the bottom of the inning. Brandon Romans drew a walk and Tyson Auer followed with a base hit. Designated hitter Chadd Hartman followed with a triple down the right field line to score both men and a single to center by Josh Siebenaler made it a 4-3 game.
The Knights tied the contest with a run in the fifth. Colin Arnold took advantage of a familiar bad hop off the infield dirt for a hit and stole second to move into scoring position. He advanced to third on a ground out and then scored on another grounder to even the score, 4-4. Rice used the longball to move back in front in the seventh. Rick Hague led off with a solo shot over the wall in left field for his seventh round-tripper of the year. Adam Zornes followed with another deep blast that cleared the fences to left-center. Zornes touched them all for his team-leading ninth homer that made it 6-4. UCF showed it could go deep as well. Ryan Richardson led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo homer to make the score 6-5. The Blue & Gray missed a chance for some insurance runs in the eighth, but capitalized on the opportunity in the ninth. Singles by Padron, Seastrunk and Mozingo pushed across the team's final run and it proved to be big. Vazquez led off the ninth with a solo home run to cut the margin to one, 7-6. St.Clair, however, struck out each of the next two batters and Comerota made nice stop on a bounding ball to end the threat. The save was St.Clair's third of the season and broke his own school record for saves with the 25th of his career. Eight different Rice batters in the lineup had hits and Padron led four with at least two. The baseball team has a break from game-action while the University is in its final exams period beginning on Monday (April 28). The Owls next return to the diamond on May 6 for a home game against Texas State to open a five-game homestand. Start time with the Bobcats is set for 6:30 pm at Reckling Park. |
