Rice University
Old Dominion
Rice Defeats ODU Saturday, 4-3
4/7/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Recap by: John Sullivan, Rice Athletics (jsully@rice.edu)
HOUSTON -- The Rice baseball team rode a strong 7.0 inning start from Roel Garcia and reliever Dane Acker held-off a late rally to help the Owls claim a 4-3 Conference USA victory over visiting Old Dominion Saturday afternoon at Reckling Park.
Garcia came up big in his fifth start of the season. The sophomore right-hander from Deer Park, Texas, fired a career-long 7.0 innings, scattering six hits and a walk while posting a career-high seven strikeouts to improve his record to 3-1.
Old Dominion was first on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the second inning. The Monarchs were looking for more in loading the bases with just one-away, but Garcia worked his way out of further damage with back-to-back strikeouts.
Rice quickly answered to take the lead in the bottom of the frame. Andrew Dunlap knocked a leadoff homer over the wall in left field to tie the game, 1-1. Two batters later catcher Brandt Frazier blasted a pitch off the far light-stand in right-center field.
Frazier's first career round-tripper was the third time this season for Rice to hit two homers in a game, but ODU continued to fight. In the top of the third, Bryce Windham hit a leadoff double to left. He went to third on a long fly to right and scored on Erik Stock's single up the middle to make it 2-2.
The Owls bounced back with two in the third to go ahead 4-2. Ryan Chandler drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Dominic DiCaprio's single through the left side. Trei Cruz followed with a hard double down the left field line to drive in one. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Braden Comeaux.
Garcia had settled-in to retire 12 in a row during one stretch. ODU cut the margin to just one, 4-3 with a run on a hit and a walk in the eighth. Acker entered the game out of the Owl bullpen and got three-straight fly balls to end the inning, the last of which was a sensational catch in foul territory by Comeaux near the fence on the left side. Acker then had a nice 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to preserve the 4-3 final for his first collegiate save.
Rice improved to 14-19 overall and 4-7 in C-USA action. Old Dominion is 10-19 on the season and 3-8 against the league.
The series vs. ODU, as well as the current homestand, conclude Sunday (April 8). First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon at Reckling Park.
