Rice University
2-4
Louisiana
6-2
Owls Fall In Series Finale, 6-3
2/28/2021 7:01:00 PM | Baseball
Rice Returns Home To Host Prairie View Wednesday Night
The Story
Rice was first on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the third inning. Back-to-back singles by Ben Dukes and Hal Hughes put runners on first and second. Dukes appeared to be caught between second and third on a pickoff play, but a throwing error in the rundown allowed him to score for a 1-0 lead. Louisiana was able to score two runs in fifth, sixth and seventh innings for a 6-1 advantage.
In the top of the eighth, Braden Comeaux was hit by a pitch and true freshman Guy Garibay followed with a two-run blast over the wall in right field. Graibay's first career round-tripper was in his third career start and pulled the Owls to within three, 6-3.
For The Record
The Owls are now 2-4 on the season after three-straight losses in the weekend series. Louisiana improved to 6-2 overall.
Garcia The Great
Veteran right-hander Roel Garcia made his second start of the season and was sensational. He posted a career-high eight strikeouts without allowing any runs on one hit in a predetermined 4.0 innings of work (the same 4.0 IP limit he had a week ago vs. HBU). In his two outings this year Garcia has not allowed any runs on four hits in 8.0 innings while striking out 11.
Frosh Hitting
Five of Rice's six hits in the game were by Owl freshmen, including Garibay, Nathan Becker, Ben Dukes and Justin Long with a pair of hits in a 2-for-4 day.
Matt Bragga Said
"Roel's performance today against this team, in this stadium, was great to see," Bragga said. "I liked Guy hitting that big opposite field home run and we had another freshman, Dillon Janac, come in to pitch with the bases-loaded in his college debut and he got a double-play ball – which we were able to turn. That was a rough situation to bring him in but he performed. So there were some positives today, and in the other games too, but we have a lot to work on. Roel gave us that whale of a start today, but our bullpen has to be better."
Notes & Stats
• After the Garcia start the Owls used a season-high six pitchers out of the bullpen. Cristian Cienfuegos, Matthew Linskey and Dillon Janac all made their pitching debuts in the contest.
• Freshman Connor Walsh was held out of the lineup Sunday after suffering an injury while running to first base in Saturday's game. Braden Comeaux left Sunday's game after getting hit by a pitch near his batting helmet in the top of the eighth.
Next Up
The Owls return home to Reckling Park to host longtime foe Prairie View on Wednesday (March 3). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Robinson, Carter (1-0)
L: Deskins, Brandon (0-1)
S: Schultz, Jacob (1)
Batting:
2B: Becker, Nathan 1
HR: Garibay Jr., Guy 1
RBI: Garibay Jr., Guy 2
SH: Dukes, Ben 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hoyle, Johnny 1 ; Garibay Jr., Guy 1 ; Dukes, Ben 1
HBP: Comeaux, Braden 1
Batting:
2B: Roccaforte, Carson 1 ; Lada, Bobby 1
3B: Roccaforte, Carson 1
HR: Robertson, Tyler 1
RBI: Robertson, Tyler 3 ; Lada, Bobby 1 ; Osborn, Drake 1 ; Cofield, Josh 1
SF: Osborn, Drake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Robertson, Tyler 1 ; Roccaforte, Carson 1 ; Breaux, Brennan 1 ; Osborn, Drake 1 ; Riola, Sam 1 ; Borgogno, Brett 1
SB: Robertson, Tyler 2 ; Fitzgerald, Ben 1 ; Lada, Bobby 1
CS: Robertson, Tyler 1 ; Lada, Bobby 1
HBP: Fitzgerald, Ben 1 ; Talley, Brandon 1
