Rice University
15-7, 2-2
Memphis
10-13, 2-2
Tigers Top Owls In Slugfest 10-7
3/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 27, 2009
HOUSTON -- The Rice baseball team scored seven runs on 17 hits, including four for extra bases, but the University of Memphis claimed a 10-7 road win over the Owls in the opening game of a three-game Conference USA series Friday night at Reckling Park in Houston.
Memphis came out hot and posted two runs in each of the first three innings, then added a total of four runs in three of the last four frames on the way to a 14-hit effort of their own. The Owls managed to push across single runs in seven of the nine innings on the night, but could never claim a lead with a multi-run outburst. Rice ended up leaving a total of 12 men on base.
After the Tigers built a 6-3 lead after the first three innings, the Owls cut the margin to two with junior second baseman Brock Holt's solo home run to right field. Memphis got the run back in the sixth on Chad Zurcher's squeeze bunt. Rice came right back with an RBI single in the sixth by Anthony Rendon that scored Michael Fuda to make it 7-5.
Memphis scored a run in the seventh and two in the eighth to make it a 10-5 game. Rice rallied for runs in its final two at bats. Rendon drove in Holt with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. In the ninth, freshman Daniel-Gonzales Luna doubled with two away and scored on a base hit by Steven Sultzbaugh. Holt and junior Diego Seastrunk both registered three hits to lead six Owls with two or more in the contest.
Rice used a total of six pitchers. Right-hander Travis Wright made his collegiate debut and struck out three without allowing any hits or walks in 1.1 innings of work.
Rice is now 15-7 overall and 2-2 in conference. The Tigers improved to 10-13 on the season and 2-2 in C-USA play. The league series continues at Reckling Park through Sunday (Mar. 29). Remaining game times are set for 2 pm on Saturday and noon on Sunday. (Note that the Sunday start time is a change from some earlier listings.)
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Martin, Brennon (3-1)
L: Rogers, Jared (1-1)
S: Williams, Duke (1)
Batting:
2B: Zurcher, Chad 1 ; Wiedman, Trey 1 ; Shelton, Cole 1
RBI: Zurcher, Chad 2 ; Bowen, Brett 1 ; Wiedman, Trey 2 ; Ablett, Shawn 2 ; Huelsing, Tyler 2
SH: Zurcher, Chad 1 ; Bowen, Brett 1 ; Newsom, Chris 1
SF: Huelsing, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Martinez, Drew 1 ; Zurcher, Chad 2 ; Bowen, Brett 1 ; Wiedman, Trey 1 ; Ablett, Shawn 2 ; Shelton, Cole 1 ; Huelsing, Tyler 1 ; Wilson, Jacob 1
CS: Bowen, Brett 1
Batting:
2B: Mozingo, Chad 1 ; Gonzales-Luna, Daniel 1 ; Fuda, Michael 1
HR: Holt, Brock 1
RBI: Holt, Brock 1 ; Comerota, Jimmy 1 ; Rendon, Anthony 2 ; Seastrunk, Diego 1 ; Mozingo, Chad 1 ; Sultzbaugh, Steven 1
SH: Comerota, Jimmy 1
SF: Rendon, Anthony 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Holt, Brock 3 ; Seastrunk, Diego 1 ; Gonzales-Luna, Daniel 1 ; Fuda, Michael 2
SB: Holt, Brock 1 ; Mozingo, Chad 1
PO: Hague, Rick 1
