Rice University
0-1
Houston Baptist
1-0
HBU Slips Past Rice In 10 Innings
2/20/2021 7:31:00 PM | Baseball
Second Game Sunday Set For 12:30 PM At Reckling Park
The Story
Rice quickly jumped on the scoreboard for four runs in the top of the first inning on four hits. The big blow was a strong three-run homer to left by Austin Bulman. HBU answered with a run in the second and fifth to cut the margin to 4-2. The Huskies surged in front, 7-4, with five runs in the sixth.
The Owls came right back with a pair of runs on two outs in the bottom of the frame that made it one run contest. Rice rallied for the tying score in the bottom of the ninth as Braden Comeaux singled through the right side and advanced to scoring position on Hal Hughes' sacrifice bunt. Comeaux dashed to third on a wild pitch and scored on Will Karp's sacrifice fly to center. HBU regained the lead with a score in the tenth. The Owls stranded the potential tying run on base in the bottom of the extra inning.
The Stats
HBU outhit Rice 16-8. Comeaux and Justin Dunlap shared the Rice lead with two hits each. The Owls were 2-for-9 (.222) when batting with runners in scoring position.
What Matt Bragga Had to Say
"HBU played well and deserve a lot of credit, but obviously we're not happy," said Rice head coach Matt Bragga. "That was a nice first inning, but we did not build it like I know we are capable of doing. We need to be a lot better than what we showed today and we will."
Notes
• Grad transfer Mitchell Holcomb started on the mound for the Owls and did not walk a batter in 5.1 innings of work.
• Holcomb was one of five new players making their Rice debut Saturday.
• Rice's scheduled starters for the next two games of the series are right-handers Blake Brogdon and Roel Garcia, respectively.
Next Up
Game two of the three-game season opening series is set for Sunday at 12:30 pm. First pitch of Monday's contest is 1:30 pm at Reckling Park
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Reitmeyer, Andrew (1-0)
L: Greenwood, Drake (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Miller, Jake 1 ; Dumont, Christian 1
3B: Soriano, Nathan 1
RBI: Soriano, Nathan 4 ; Trinidad, Sebastian 3 ; Dumont, Christian 1
SH: Soriano, Nathan 1 ; Solomon, Matt 1
SF: Trinidad, Sebastian 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Jake 3 ; Solomon, Matt 1 ; Trinidad, Sebastian 1 ; Dumont, Christian 2 ; Talbot, Chase 1
SB: Soriano, Nathan 1 ; Dumont, Christian 1
CS: Soriano, Nathan 1 ; Franson, Trent 1
HBP: Franson, Trent 1
Batting:
HR: Bulman, Austin 1
RBI: Karp, Will 1 ; Bulman, Austin 4
SH: Hughes, Hal 1
SF: Bulman, Austin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Comeaux, Braden 2 ; Hughes, Hal 1 ; Karp, Will 1 ; Bulman, Austin 1 ; Walsh, Connor 1 ; Dunlap, Justin 1
CS: Walsh, Connor 1
