Rice University
21-26-2
Sam Houston State
33-16
Rice Rallies Past Sam Houston 5-3
5/8/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Recap by: John Sullivan, Rice Athletics (jsully@rice.edu)
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Rice baseball team scored two runs with two away in the top of the ninth inning for a 5-3 road victory at longtime rival Sam Houston State Tuesday evening in Huntsville, Texas.
Rice had one of its biggest first-inning run totals with three early scores, but the Owls were held off the scoreboard for each of the next seven frames. Finally in the top of the ninth, Chace Sarchet was hit by a pitch with one away and Ford Proctor lined a two-out single up the middle to put runners on first and third. Ryan Chandler drew a walk to load the stations before Rice was able to score on a passed ball and wild pitch.
With a new 5-3 lead, junior right-hander Kendal Jefferies came out of the Owl bullpen and pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season. Rice improved to 21-26-2 on the season, topping a solid Sam Houston squad (33-16 overall) at the Bearkats home stadium.
The Blue & Gray went right to work putting up three runs on just one hit in the top of the first. Chandler hit a one-out double, and the Bearkats also issued a pair of walks, hit a batter and had a fielding error as Rice sent eight men to the plate.
Sam Houston answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame, but funny thing happen on the way to what appeared to be a traditional midweek college baseball run-scoring-fest. A pitchers' duel broke out as the next five innings zoomed by.
Rice junior left-hander Evan Kravetz started on the mound for the second time this season and just the fourth time in his career. After the first inning he settled down and proceeded to tie the longest outing of his career with 5.0 innings of work. Kravetz finished allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out four.
On the other side, Sam Houston State reliever Riley Gossett came in and held Rice in check without allowing any runs for the next 6.1 innings, scattering just three hits and striking out four.
Sam Houston rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. A one-out walk and a double put Bearkat runners on second and third. Jordan Cannon plated both with a base hit up the middle before Rice reliever Garret Gayle came out of the bullpen to end the threat with a strikeout. He finished the night with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings, and went on to earn his second win of the season before handing the bottom of the ninth over to Jefferies.
The Owls have concluded the four-game road swing and are next back at Reckling Park for the team's final three home games of the season. Rice hosts Conference USA foe UAB on Friday (May 11). First pitch against the Blazers is set for 6:30 pm.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gayle, Garrett (2-2)
L: Demco, Brad (3-1)
S: Jefferies, Kendal (2)
Batting:
2B: Chandler, Ryan 1
RBI: DiCaprio, Dominic 1 ; Collins, Justin 1
SF: Collins, Justin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Proctor, Ford 1 ; Chandler, Ryan 1 ; Cruz, Trei 1 ; Dunlap, Andrew 1 ; Sarchet, Chase 1
SB: Chandler, Ryan 2 ; Cruz, Trei 1
HBP: Comeaux, Braden 1 ; Sarchet, Chase 1
Batting:
2B: Harp, Clayton 1
RBI: Cannon, Jordan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: McKnight, Riley 1 ; Hearn, Hunter 1 ; Harp, Clayton 1
SB: McKnight, Riley 1 ; Cannon, Jordan 1
