Saturday's Sports Update : Baseball earns first series sweep of the season over Houston
Rice snagged a series sweep of the University of Houston this afternoon in exciting fashion. The Owls (17-12, 4-2 Conference USA), having already captured the Silver Glove Trophy last night for the 10th consecutive season, won 7-6 in 12 innings.Houston (12-14, 2-4 C-USA) got on the board in the first inning with a bloop double down the line, two singles and a sacrifice fly to total two runs. Rice responded by loading the bases in the first. Sophomore third baseman Anthony Rendon approached the plate and with one swing of the bat doubled Houston's run output. The grand slam was his 11th home run of the season.
Rice starter Mike Ojala (1-0), throwing on a limited pitch count due to injury, gave up a leadoff homer in the second and was soon lifted in favor of junior Doug Simmons (1-0).
Head Coach Wayne Graham was satisfied by the outings of both pitchers.
"[Ojala] didn't have any luck, plus he wasn't getting his changeup over and that hurt him," Graham said. "But he'll be fine."
Graham also responded positively in regards to his first reliever, who went on to only forfeit one unearned run over a season-high 4.2 innings.
"Simmons was sensational out of the pen, he did a great job," Graham said.
Houston starter Eric Brooks walked three Owls to open the second inning and was quickly replaced by Matt Creel. Rice failed to fully capitalize on the offensive opportunity but pushed two runs across with a combination fielder's choice and error off the bat of freshman second baseman Michael Ratterree.
Following the offensive action of the first two and a half innings, the next nine frames were full of zeros in a reliever's duel between Simmons and Creel. Freshman Tyler Duffey (2-1) came in for Simmons in the eighth, when a defensive miscue cost Rice the lead.
The Owls failed to get the second half of a double play after a high throw by Ratterree, a play that was soon followed by Chris Wallace's three-run shot to give Houston a 7-6 lead.
Rice fought back in the bottom of the frame, thanks in large part to junior right fielder Chad Mozingo-who finished 4-4 with two walks-and his double that scored senior center fielder Steven Sultzbaugh.
Freshman Holt McNair (1-0) and junior Boogie Anagnostou (2-2) held down the fort for the Owls until the 12th inning, when with one out sophomore designated hitter Craig Manuel fired a shot over the right field wall for his first career homer and a walk-off win for Rice.
The beginning and ending innings were highlighted by offense, but according to Graham it was what happened in the middle that secured the win.
"I think the thing we got today was extraordinary defense," Graham said. "Ricky Hague had a great day at shortstop, absolutely a great day. And Rendon made that key double play [in the 11th] where the hop was tough, and Boogie did a good job out of the pen."
The Owls will look to extend their five-game winning streak with a home contest against Dallas Baptist at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
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