Baseball Team Falls at Home to Houston, 3-0

Wednesday, February 19

Reckling Park

4:30 PM

Rice University

3-2

Houston

4-0

Houston

Rice

<b>Matt Ditman has allowed just one run in 11.1 innings this season.</b>

Baseball Team Falls at Home to Houston, 3-0

2/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

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Feb. 19, 2014

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HOUSTON - In a game where both teams posted solid pitching performances, visiting Houston claimed a 3-0 win over the Rice baseball team Wednesday evening at Reckling Park.

The Cougars tallied a run with two away in the top of the first inning, but Owl sophomore right-hander Matt Ditman soon settled in to fire a career-long 7.1 innings with no other significant threats. In just his second career start he scattered four hits and a walk with one strikeout. Ditman retired 17-straight batters during one stretch and 18-of-19 overall.

When Ditman gave up a leadoff single to start the top of the eighth, the game was still a narrow 1-0 score with both teams even at four hits each. Rice worked out of the top of the eighth with a strikeout, but Houston pushed across two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth to make it 3-0.

Rice's best offensive chance was in the bottom of the fourth. The Owls loaded the bases with two outs after a Skyler Ewing base hit and a pair of walks. Credit UH pitchers Matt Locus and Tyler Ford for combining on a shutout. The duo allowed four hits and two walks.

"We didn't give ourselves many chances, but if we get a hit in the chance you have it's a different ball game," said Rice head coach Wayne Graham, now in his 23rd season at the helm of the program. "We had good pitching and played better defense than we did yesterday. Sometimes games are `make-or-break.'"

Rice is now 3-2 while Houston remained undefeated at 4-0. The crosstown rivals are scheduled to play a total of three games over the course of the season where the Silver Glove Trophy is on the line.

The Owls continue the current homestand with a three-game weekend series vs. Purdue. First pitch in Friday's contest is slated for 4:30pm at Reckling Park.