Rice University
Samford
The Chace Is On!
2/16/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Recap/Video by: John Sullivan, Rice Athletics (jsully@rice.edu)
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Senior Chace Sarchet blasted a dramatic two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to help rally the Rice baseball team to a walk-off 8-7 victory over Samford in the 2018 season-opener for both teams Friday afternoon at a neutral setting of UCF's John Euliano Park in Orlando, Fla.
The teams exchanged the lead over the course of the contest, with Samford taking a 6-4 advantage after batting in the top of the seventh. Rice however battled back to tie the game, 6-6, with a pair of scores in the bottom of the frame. The Bulldogs moved back in front 7-6 in the top of the ninth after a pair of walks, a wild pitch, and Ayrton Schafer's sacrifice fly.
Rice junior shortstop Ford Proctor led off the bottom of the ninth reaching base on a tricky fly ball to right field. Two batters later Sarchet drove a pitch over the right field wall for the walk-off win. The round-tripper capped a day where Sarchet had scored twice, stolen a pair of bases early in the day and tallied a pair of RBI.
The season-opening tournament continues on Saturday (Feb. 17) with the Owls facing event host UCF at 4 pm Central Time. The Knights are the No. 22 ranked team in the country. Sunday's tourney finale is schedule for a 9 am (Central Time) start against No. 15 ranked Virginia.
