FAU Holds-Off Rice Rally In Ninth

Saturday, April 21

Reckling Park

1:00 PM

Rice University

16-23-1, 6-10-1

Florida Atlantic

29-9, 13-4

Florida Atlantic

RICE

4/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 21, 2018

Box Score

Box Score pdf

Recap by: John Sullivan, Rice Athletics (jsully@rice.edu)

HOUSTON – Visiting Florida Atlantic held-off a late rally for a 5-3 Conference USA win over the Rice baseball team in Saturday's second game of the three-game weekend series Saturday afternoon at Reckling Park.

Rice threatened for runs in both of the first two innings before breaking through for three in the bottom of the third. Ryan Chandler and Trei Cruz started the inning off with back-to-back singles and both scored on Braden Comeaux' triple to the gap in right-center. Andrew Dunlap laced a two RBI single to score Comeaux for the 3-0 advantage.

Rice starter Addison Moss hand-cuffed No. 25 ranked FAU through the first five innings, facing the minimum 15 batters on the strength of a steady dose of ground-outs, five strikeouts and a slick an inning-ending double-play in the fifth. FAU posted single runs in the sixth and seventh to cut the lead to one, 3-2.

FAU rallied to take the lead, 5-3, on three hits in the top of the ninth. The big blow was a three-run home run by Gunnar Lambert that was his six homer of the year.

Rice continued to fight in its half of the ninth, loading the bases with a walk and pair of hits. FAU worked out of the jam to preserve the 5-3 final, improve to 29-9 overall as well as 13-4 in conference to remain atop of the league standings. Rice is now 16-23-1 on the season and 6-10-1 in C-USA games. The Blue & Gray had 14 hits in the contest, but also left a season-high 14 runners on base.

The C-USA weekend series concludes Sunday. Start time is set for 1 pm at Reckling Park.