Rice University
9-4
San Diego
8-8
Owls Sink San Diego 9-2
3/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2009
HOUSTON -- Rice sophomore rightfielder Chad Mozingo went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored while junior pitcher Mike Ojala worked a career-long 7.2 innings on the mound to help pace the No. 5 Owls' baseball team to a 9-2 win over visiting No. 20 San Diego in the opening game of a four-game weekend series Thursday evening at Reckling Park.
The temperatures were cool, but the Owls were hot chipping away for runs in all but two of eight offensive innings. The Blue & Gray scored two runs in the bottom of the first, one in the second and one in the third for an early 4-0 lead. That was more than enough room for Ojala, who earned his first win of the season by scattering eight hits and pair of walks over a career-long 7.2 innings. The right-hander from Kingwood struck out four and only one of the two runs he allowed on the damp night was earned.
Mozingo was one of the Owls' offensive catalysts in the early-going. He reached on a fielder's choice and scored the first run of the game in the first, and he doubled-in a run in the second. In the fifth he bunted for a base hit and eventually scored on a Torero fielding error as Rice sent eight men to the plate in the inning. In the sixth, Mozingo knocked a pitch over the centerfield wall for an 8-2 Rice lead and his second home run of the season.
The Blue & Gray had a total of ten hits on the night. Shortstop Rick Hague and catcher Diego Seastrunk both had two hits, two walks and two runs each. Rice had some added god news as junior second baseman Brock Holt returned to the starting lineup for the first time in more than a week. Holt drew a pair of walks, scored a run and was solid with four defensive assists.
Junior Mark Haynes pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Owls. The right-hander from Sugar Land held USD to just one hit and increased his streak of consecutive scoreless innings 8.0 on the young season.
Rice improved to 9-4 on the season. The Toreros fell to 8-8 overall. The same two teams are scheduled to continue the four-game series at Reckling Park through Sun. (Mar. 15). Game times are set for 6:30 pm on
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ojala, Mike (1-0)
L: CAMPBELL, Darrin (1-3)
Batting:
2B: MEADOR, James 2
RBI: STRAZZARA, Tony 1 ; VALERIO, Jose 1
SH: CHATWOOD, Steven 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MEADOR, James 1 ; SANCHEZ, Victor 1
SB: NICOL, Sean 1
CS: WALTERS, Zach 1
HBP: SANCHEZ, Victor 1
Batting:
2B: Mozingo, Chad 1 ; Seastrunk, Diego 2 ; Rendon, Anthony 1 ; Rathjen, Jeremy 1
HR: Mozingo, Chad 1
RBI: Mozingo, Chad 2 ; Rendon, Anthony 1 ; Hague, Rick 1 ; Rathjen, Jeremy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Holt, Brock 1 ; Mozingo, Chad 3 ; Seastrunk, Diego 2 ; Rendon, Anthony 1 ; Hague, Rick 2
SB: Hague, Rick 2
CS: Holt, Brock 1
PO: Comerota, Jimmy 1
