Baseball Team Holds On To Defeat Cal Poly 10-7

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at Louisiana

Oct 11

1 PM

Baseball

vs McClennan JC

Oct 26

Noon

Reckling Park

Feb. 21, 2009

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Sophomore Rick Hague and Jeremy Rathjen both collected three hits each to lead a 14-hit Rice attack, but the No. 3 ranked Owls baseball team had to stop a pair of rallies in each of the final two innings to hang on for a 10-7 victory over Cal Poly in the 2009 season-opener for both teams late Friday night at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Rice relievers Jordan Rogers and Matt Evers both worked out of identical bases-loaded jams in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to preserve the victory. The Owls were up by two, 9-7,in the eighth when junior second baseman Brock Holt snagged an inning-ending line drive. After a Rice run in the top of the ninth, Rogers was replaced by Evers to start the bottom of the frame. The sophomore left-hander struck out a pair with two men on but walked Cal Poly's hitting star of the night, Matt Jensen, to load the bases.

Evers got a ground ball to the left side of the infield where Hague again showed he has the defense at shortstop to go along with a three-hit night that featured a career-high three doubles. The defensive assist was his seventh of the game, which also marked a new career-high for the standout from Spring, Tex.

The relievers certainly came through, but early in the contest it was the offense making the most noise. For the better part of a four-hour-long season-opener, the Blue & Gray banged-out hit after hit, particularly in the top half of the lineup.

Junior Brock Holt led off the game with an infield hit and junior Jimmy Comerota moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Shortstop Rick Hague laced a double into left field and the Owls were in front 1-0.

Rice had some miscues on the defensive side in the bottom half of the frame and Cal Poly charged into the lead without getting a base hit. Centerfielder Ryan Lee drew a leadoff walk and Adam Melker reached on a catcher's interference by Owl junior Diego Seastrunk in his first game to play the position. The play put men on first and second, and both men advanced two bases for one Cal Poly run on a Rice error while fielding a sacrifice bunt. The Mustangs added another score on a sacrifice fly and Mustangs were in front 2-1 without getting any hits. Cal Poly still had men on second and third when Hague snagged a low line drive and doubled-off the runner at second to get the Owls out of the jam.

The home team's lead was short-lived. The Owls exploded for five runs on three hits, two walks and a Cal Poly error in the second inning. Hague doubled-in his second run of the night and RBI singles by Holt and Rathjen helped make the score 6-2.

Cal Poly put together a five-run inning of their own to take the lead in the third. Two runs were in on a walk and two hits when Mustang slugger Matt Jensen blasted a three-run homer over the wall in centefield. CPU moved in front 7-6 with just three hits after three innings.

Rice tied the game in the top of the sixth. Holt reached on a fielder's choice and consecutive walks to Comerota and Hague loaded the bases. Freshman Anthony Rendon's sacrifice fly to right field brought Holt home to make it 7-7.

The Owls moved back in front for the third time on the night in the seventh thanks to a one-out solo home run by junior transfer Steven Sultzbaugh. The slugger from Austin knocked a 1-0 pitch well over the wall in left-center field. Rice then tacked on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth, with an RBI single by Rathjen and a solo home run by Seastrunk, respectively.

Junior right-hander Ryan Berry started for the Owls on the mound and finished with a no-decision after working 4.2 innings. The Humble, Tex., native allowed just four hits, but walked five and was charged with five earned runs. He was relieved by Rogers, who registered a sound and solid night. The veteran from Dayton, Tex., pitched 3.1 shutout innings without allowing any hits for his second career win. He struck out a career-high four batters and his teammates helped him secure his best Rice outing.

It was still a narrow three-run lead in the ninth, but Evers also kept the Mustangs off the scoreboard for his first career save. He allowed just one hit and struck out two as Cal Poly left a total of 11 men on base. Rice left even more (14) and still managed to reach double-digit runs, and this was only the season-opener.

The both of the final two games of the season-opening road trip are scheduled for Saturday (Feb. 21) at Cal Poly in a split double-header. The first game Saturday is scheduled for 3 pm (Central Time) and the series finale is at 8 pm (Central).

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