Rice University
9-8
Southern
5-11
Owls Take Series Opener vs. Southern
3/19/2021 11:27:00 PM | Baseball
Three Home Runs Highlight 17-hit Attack
HOUSTON — The Rice Baseball team scored runs in six of its eight offensive innings and pitcher Blake Brogdon provided a solid start on the mound for 14-2 victory over visiting Southern University Friday evening at Reckling Park.
Owls Get Offensive
Rice banged out a season-high 17 hits, including seven for extra bases highlighted by three home runs. The Owls never had one particularly big inning, but continued to apply consistent offensive pressure all game long. The score was 10-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Connor Walsh connected for his second home run in as many games. This time Walsh's blast was a grand slam to centerfield.
Grade A For B.B.
Almost lost in all the offensive fireworks was a steady outing by Owl starting pitcher Blake Brogdon. The right-hander from Cypress picked up his second win of the season by allowing just two runs over a career-long 7.0 innings while posting a career-high ten strikeouts with only one walk. True freshman Matthew Linskey pitched the last two scoreless innings, registering three strikeouts without allowing any hits.
For The Record
Rice improved to 9-8 overall. Southern is now 5-11 on the season.
Head Coach Matt Bragga Said
"It was nice to get back to winning ways," said Coach Bragga. "Blake did a great job and was pretty efficient getting ten strikeouts in seven innings. I liked Matthew Linskey doing his job. No matter what the score is when you come in to a game, do your job.
"I thought we had a great offensive approach tonight, that helped produced three home runs and four doubles," coach Bragga added. "It was a nice hitter's night tonight. Now we have to stay focused and try and do it again tomorrow, and turn it into a habit."
Notes & Stats
• Connor Walsh has hit home runs in consecutive games. His eighth inning grand slam was the Owls' first since hitting two slams in one inning at Charlotte in 2019.
• Justin Dunlap paced all hitters with a career-best four hits, including his third round-tripper of the year.
• Braden Comeaux went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, two RBI and a pair of doubles. The two-double game was the eighth of his collegiate career.
• Antonio Cruz started as the designated hitter and drove in three runs with his first home run of the season.
• Brogdon is the second Owl on the staff this season to post ten strikeouts in a start after Brandon Deskins had 11 against HBU on March 9.
One Game Saturday
The same teams continue the weekend series on Saturday with one nine-inning game and not a double-header as was originally scheduled. First pitch Saturday against the Jaguars is set for 1 pm.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brogdon, Blake (2-2)
L: Allen, W. (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Wilbur, J. 2
RBI: Wilbur, J. 1 ; Armstrong, J 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spears, T. 1 ; Armstrong, J 1
SB: Armstrong, J 1
PO: Thompson, B 1
Batting:
2B: Gneiting, Bradley 1 ; Comeaux, Braden 2 ; Garibay Jr., Guy 1
HR: Dunlap, Justin 1 ; Cruz, Antonio 1 ; Walsh, Connor 1
RBI: Dunlap, Justin 1 ; Comeaux, Braden 2 ; Garibay Jr., Guy 2 ; Cruz, Antonio 3 ; Walsh, Connor 4 ; Long, Justin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dunlap, Justin 2 ; Gneiting, Bradley 2 ; Comeaux, Braden 3 ; Garibay Jr., Guy 1 ; Edwards, Cade 3 ; Cruz, Antonio 2 ; Walsh, Connor 1
SB: Dunlap, Justin 1
