Rice University
17-25-2, 7-12-2
Charlotte
24-19, 11-10
Charlotte Rallies Past Rice In Ninth, 6-4
4/29/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Recap by: John Sullivan, Rice Athletics (jsully@rice.edu)
HOUSTON – The visiting Charlotte baseball team rallied for six runs in the top of the ninth inning to claim a 6-4 Conference USA win over the Rice Owls in the finale of the three-game weekend series Sunday afternoon at Reckling Park.
Rice is now 17-25-2 on the season and 7-12-2 in league play. Charlotte improved to 24-19 overall and 11-10 in C-USA.
The Owls had a solid start on the mound from sophomore Addison Moss, who scattered six singles and a pair of walks in working a career-long 7.1 innings. The Rice offense supported him with single runs in the third, sixth and seventh (before scoring a final run in the in the eighth). The defense also contributed a pair of clutch double plays in the sixth and eighth when Charlotte threatened for runs.
Rice held the 4-0 lead to start the top of the ninth and retired the first two Charlotte batters. A walk, wild pitch and RBI single led to a run. Another wild pitch and RBI single plated a second run to make the score 4-2. Rice looked to be ending the game as sophomore third baseman Braden Comeaux made a sensational bare-handed grab and throw on a tricky, shallow, grounder near the base line. Batter Jackson Mims was safe at first, however, to load the bases. A walk forced-in a run to cut the lead to one, 4-3. Drew Ober singled to right field to give the 49ers the lead, 5-4, and one more run later scored before the play ended as Rice tried to get the final out in a run-down.
The Owls picked up their 12th hit of the day with a Dominic Cox double in the bottom of the ninth. Charlotte hung-on to record the 6-4 final.
The C-USA weekend series has concluded but the Owls still have one more game remaining in the current homestand. Rice hosts longtime foe Lamar on May 2 (Wed.) at Reckling Park. Start time against the Cardinals is set for 6:30 pm.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Drew Morrison (2-0)
L: Jefferies, Kendal (1-3)
S: Carson Pinkney (2)
Batting:
RBI: Harris Yett 1 ; Drew Ober 2 ; Todd Elwood 1 ; Hunter Jones 1
SH: Todd Elwood 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reece Hampton 1 ; Jackson Mims 1 ; Harris Yett 1 ; Dominick Cammarata 1 ; Todd Elwood 1 ; Hunter Jones 1
Batting:
2B: Cox, Dominic 1
RBI: Proctor, Ford 1 ; Cruz, Trei 1 ; Comeaux, Braden 1 ; Collins, Justin 1
SH: DiCaprio, Dominic 1
SF: Proctor, Ford 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cruz, Trei 1 ; Dunlap, Andrew 1 ; Sarchet, Chase 2
SB: Comeaux, Braden 1 ; Sarchet, Chase 1
