Friday, April 16
Norfolk, VA
2 pm
Rice University
at
Old Dominion
Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Baseball Travels To ODU For C-USA Series
4/15/2021 12:05:00 PM | Baseball
Owls Face Red Hot Monarchs In Norfolk, Va.
Rice Owls Baseball
Game 34 | at Old Dominion, Friday, April 16, 2 pm
Game 35 | at Old Dominion, Saturday, April 17, 1 pm
Game 36 | at Old Dominion, game two of Saturday DH, start time tba
Game 37 | at Old Dominion, Sunday, April 18, 11 am
(all times listed are Central Time)
Location: Norfolk, Va.
Rice Game Day Program: Online
Video Stream: CUSAtv
Listen Online: Audio
Live Stats: Here (all games this series)
Series vs. Old Dominion: Rice leads 14-7 since 2014; Complete series listing
The Rice baseball team (14-18-1 overall, 2-9-1 Conference USA) returns to the road for a C-USA weekend series April 16-18. The Owls travel to East Division foe Old Dominion (24-6, 10-2) for a four-game set in Norfolk, Va. Friday's series opener is set for a 2 pm first pitch (Central Time). Saturday's double-header of two seven-inning games begins at 1 pm (Central). Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 11 am (Central - a change from some earlier listings).
Every Rice baseball game is scheduled for a live audio broadcast on the Internet at RiceOwls.com. Tune-in to the broadcast's pregame show 10 minutes before first pitch. Veteran J.P. Heath is now in his 13th season as the voice of the Owls.
Live Stats Links Online at RiceOwls.com
Links to live play-by-play text and statistics from every game, home and away, are posted on RiceOwls.com. Look for the links on the Rice Athletics front page, the weekly series preview, and/or the baseball schedule page.
Follow The Tweeting Rice Owls
The official Rice baseball Twitter account is @RiceBaseball while the Rice Athletics department is @RiceAthletics. Twitter is perhaps the fastest way to get weather-related changes to the schedule/updated start times.
OWL IN
The Owl In logo represents the continued commitment of Rice Athletics' student-athletes, coaches, and staff to come together for positive change throughout our department, campus, and world. With increased efforts in education, policy development, and action as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, members of the Rice Athletics community will become better equipped to ensure we can fulfill our department's desire to be a more inclusive and welcoming place. To learn more about being Owl In, visit RiceOwls.com/OwlIn.
Head Coach Matt Bragga
A 20-year veteran of the head coaching ranks, Matt Bragga was named the 21st head coach in Rice baseball history on June 15, 2018. He went 26-33 at Rice in his first season in 2019. The Owls were 2-14 when the 2020 season came to an abrupt end, but consider Rice's (non-conference) schedule featuring road series at Texas Tech and UC Irvine, plus another four games against Texas and Texas A&M, was rated as the 11th-toughest in all of Division I. Prior to Rice Bragga sent 15 years as the Head Coach at Tennessee Tech, building that program into one of the best in the Ohio Valley Conference. The four-time OVC Coach of the Year led the Golden Eagles to three NCAA Tournament appearances, winning six OVC championships in 10 years while reaching 40 or more wins in four of six seasons from 2013-2018. In 2018, he helped Tennessee Tech to its best season in school history, amassing a school and OVC-record 53 wins, the most in the country, while leading the team to the league's regular season title and its first-ever trip to the NCAA Super Regionals. The Jefferson, Ohio, native who played collegiately at Kentucky before a pro playing career, owns a Division I coaching record of 488-457-3. Bragga is aided by assistant coaches Cory Barton (Memphis, 2007, third year), Paul Janish (Rice, 2004; fourth year), and Trevor Putzig (Tenn Tech, 2018; first year).
Possible Starting Pitcher
Coach Bragga announced Rice's starting pitcher for the opening game of the Old Dominion series as senior hight-hander Roel Garcia (1-1, 4.65). Coach Bragga will announce the remaining starters at a later time.
• It may have taken a long time in finally arriving, but Roel Garcia (1-1, 4.65 ERA) is back in 2021 and working in his first full collegiate season since 2018. By design this year Garcia has gradually increased his work load. He pitched just 4.0 innings in his first two starts against HBU and Louisiana. He moved up 5.0 innings against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 6 and had 4.0 frames in a 7-inning game vs. UTSA in C-USA's opening weekend (March 27). This season Garcia has maintained a 4.65 ERA with 23 strikeouts and nine walks in 31.0 innings. In 2020, Garcia had just one outing where he struck out three of the eight batters he faced in 2.0 innings at west coach power Cal Irvine. Things were looking up, but then the 2020 season came to an unexpected end and he had to replay the waiting game. The Deer Park, Texas, native is a veteran in his fifth year with the program, but he was sidelined all of 2019. Even without pitching in a single game in 2019, that did not stop the Toronto Blue Jays from selecting him in the 27th round of that year's MLB Draft. The 6-foot-4 right-hander had an improved second season of Division I baseball in 2018, finishing among the Rice staff leaders in starts (tied second), wins (tied third), innings (fourth), strikeouts (fifth) and opponents' batting average (fifth). He made 15 pitching appearances with 11 starts, including six times in Conference USA league games. Garcia totaled 52.0 innings with starts against high-RPI teams Texas A&M, TCU, Southern Miss and Florida Atlantic (twice). He pitched at least 5.0 innings in a game six times. Garcia was tabbed to be a significant part of Matt Bragga's debut Rice season in 2019, but the big right-hander was lost for the year in a preseason practice in January.
Previously: Owls Rally For Walk-Off Win Over Incarnate Word
HOUSTON — Braden Comeaux picked the perfect time for his first home run of the season, connecting on a three-run jack with one out in the 10th inning to cap off a seven-run rally and give Rice a 15-12 victory over Incarnate Word. Rice scored three in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras. After Joshua Larzabal retired the Cardinals, Ben Dukes led off the bottom of the 10th with a four-pitch walk and Will Karp sacrificed him to second. UIW then intentionally walked Hal Hughes, bringing up Comeaux. After a wild pitch, Comeaux sent the 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. Rice went down 10-3 after two and a third innings. But the Owls put together good at bats, scoring twice in each of the next three innings. They were held scoreless over the next three and entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 12-9. Rice put together three hits along with a walk to score three and send the game into extra innings.
• Rice's seven-run comeback was its largest of the season.
• Rice put together a season-high 19 hits.
• Cade Edwards was 3-for-6 on the night and has now hit safely in a team-high eight games.
• With three RBI, Edwards tied Guy Garibay with his seventh multi-RBI game.
• Josh Larzabal pitched one inning, striking out two for his first career victory.
• Braden Comeaux was 3-for-6 to give him a team-high 14 multiple hit games.
Winning Is Always In Fashion
For the fashion-minded, Rice's 2021 W-L records while wearing the various uniform combinations is as follows:
2-1 in white jersey, 'Rice' in blue Old English
4-3 in gradient white jersey
1-1 in gradient blue jersey with white pants
1-1 in blue jersey, 'Rice' in white Old English and gray pants
1-1 in all gray ('Rice' in blue Old English)
3-4 in pinstripes
1-2-1 in blue top, 'Rice' in Old English and pinstripe pants
1-2 in gray "R" top
0-1 in blue top, 'Rice' in Old English and white pants
0-2 in gradient blue jersey with gray pants
Preseason Accolades For Comeaux
Rice's Braden Comeaux was selected to 2021 Preseason All-Conference USA Baseball Team in the league's annual head coaches' poll, the C-USA office announced on Feb. 11. The Rice graduate who is playing with an added year of eligibility led the Owls in hitting (.349) and slugging percentage (.535) in 2020. He was also second on the on the squad in runs scored (7), on-base average (.404) and home runs (1) – all while playing in just ten of the team's 16 games during that abbreviated collegiate season. Comeaux reached base safely in eight of his ten games played and batted .333 with runners in scoring position. Comeaux has long-had the full attention of the C-USA head-coaches, but now his reputation is growing. On Feb. 10 he was one of just 48 players from across the country named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious 2021 Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award. From its headquarters in the DFW Metroplex, the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation has combined a passion for baseball and providing youngsters with the incentive and opportunity to pursue a college education for more than 25 years. At the conclusion of the season one position player will be presented with the foundation's Slugger Award. Since its inception in 2017 the award is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity.
Rice Since 1999
Using the 1999 season as the starting point (the year the NCAA expanded the postseason tournament field to 64 teams with the current Super Regional format), Rice baseball has maintained one of the nation's top win percentages over the last 22 years. Here's a closer look at the country's winningest programs from 1999-2020 (note: this listing will not be updated to include games played in 2021):
Team Years Wins Loses Ties PCT
Florida State 22 1019 391 1 .723
North Carolina 22 948 406 1 .700
LSU 22 950 432 6 .687
South Carolina 22 938 438 0 .682
Coastal Carolina 22 896 418 2 .682
Rice 22 924 435 2 .680
Miami (Fla.) 22 894 421 3 .679
Oral Roberts 22 849 416 0 .671
Cal St. Fullerton 22 881 434 0 .670
Texas 22 894 450 1 .665
Oregon St. 22 811 422 3 .657
Louisville 22 866 453 1 .656
Arizona St. 22 805 422 2 .656
Georgia Tech 22 858 456 1 .653
Virginia 22 840 446 3 .653
Florida 22 888 474 2 .652
Clemson 22 891 478 1 .651
Game 34 | at Old Dominion, Friday, April 16, 2 pm
Game 35 | at Old Dominion, Saturday, April 17, 1 pm
Game 36 | at Old Dominion, game two of Saturday DH, start time tba
Game 37 | at Old Dominion, Sunday, April 18, 11 am
(all times listed are Central Time)
Location: Norfolk, Va.
Rice Game Day Program: Online
Video Stream: CUSAtv
Listen Online: Audio
Live Stats: Here (all games this series)
Series vs. Old Dominion: Rice leads 14-7 since 2014; Complete series listing
Watch League Games Online Via CUSAtv
Conference USA league games are slated for a live online video broadcast via CUSAtv. The broadcast is a subscription service which matches the play-by-play audio with a video feed to create a television-like production on the Internet (either live or in an archived format). Games that have been selected for TV broadcasts and other platforms can alter the availability.
Every Rice baseball game is scheduled for a live audio broadcast on the Internet at RiceOwls.com. Tune-in to the broadcast's pregame show 10 minutes before first pitch. Veteran J.P. Heath is now in his 13th season as the voice of the Owls.
Live Stats Links Online at RiceOwls.com
Links to live play-by-play text and statistics from every game, home and away, are posted on RiceOwls.com. Look for the links on the Rice Athletics front page, the weekly series preview, and/or the baseball schedule page.
Follow The Tweeting Rice Owls
The official Rice baseball Twitter account is @RiceBaseball while the Rice Athletics department is @RiceAthletics. Twitter is perhaps the fastest way to get weather-related changes to the schedule/updated start times.
OWL IN
The Owl In logo represents the continued commitment of Rice Athletics' student-athletes, coaches, and staff to come together for positive change throughout our department, campus, and world. With increased efforts in education, policy development, and action as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, members of the Rice Athletics community will become better equipped to ensure we can fulfill our department's desire to be a more inclusive and welcoming place. To learn more about being Owl In, visit RiceOwls.com/OwlIn.
Head Coach Matt Bragga
A 20-year veteran of the head coaching ranks, Matt Bragga was named the 21st head coach in Rice baseball history on June 15, 2018. He went 26-33 at Rice in his first season in 2019. The Owls were 2-14 when the 2020 season came to an abrupt end, but consider Rice's (non-conference) schedule featuring road series at Texas Tech and UC Irvine, plus another four games against Texas and Texas A&M, was rated as the 11th-toughest in all of Division I. Prior to Rice Bragga sent 15 years as the Head Coach at Tennessee Tech, building that program into one of the best in the Ohio Valley Conference. The four-time OVC Coach of the Year led the Golden Eagles to three NCAA Tournament appearances, winning six OVC championships in 10 years while reaching 40 or more wins in four of six seasons from 2013-2018. In 2018, he helped Tennessee Tech to its best season in school history, amassing a school and OVC-record 53 wins, the most in the country, while leading the team to the league's regular season title and its first-ever trip to the NCAA Super Regionals. The Jefferson, Ohio, native who played collegiately at Kentucky before a pro playing career, owns a Division I coaching record of 488-457-3. Bragga is aided by assistant coaches Cory Barton (Memphis, 2007, third year), Paul Janish (Rice, 2004; fourth year), and Trevor Putzig (Tenn Tech, 2018; first year).
Possible Starting Pitcher
Coach Bragga announced Rice's starting pitcher for the opening game of the Old Dominion series as senior hight-hander Roel Garcia (1-1, 4.65). Coach Bragga will announce the remaining starters at a later time.
• It may have taken a long time in finally arriving, but Roel Garcia (1-1, 4.65 ERA) is back in 2021 and working in his first full collegiate season since 2018. By design this year Garcia has gradually increased his work load. He pitched just 4.0 innings in his first two starts against HBU and Louisiana. He moved up 5.0 innings against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 6 and had 4.0 frames in a 7-inning game vs. UTSA in C-USA's opening weekend (March 27). This season Garcia has maintained a 4.65 ERA with 23 strikeouts and nine walks in 31.0 innings. In 2020, Garcia had just one outing where he struck out three of the eight batters he faced in 2.0 innings at west coach power Cal Irvine. Things were looking up, but then the 2020 season came to an unexpected end and he had to replay the waiting game. The Deer Park, Texas, native is a veteran in his fifth year with the program, but he was sidelined all of 2019. Even without pitching in a single game in 2019, that did not stop the Toronto Blue Jays from selecting him in the 27th round of that year's MLB Draft. The 6-foot-4 right-hander had an improved second season of Division I baseball in 2018, finishing among the Rice staff leaders in starts (tied second), wins (tied third), innings (fourth), strikeouts (fifth) and opponents' batting average (fifth). He made 15 pitching appearances with 11 starts, including six times in Conference USA league games. Garcia totaled 52.0 innings with starts against high-RPI teams Texas A&M, TCU, Southern Miss and Florida Atlantic (twice). He pitched at least 5.0 innings in a game six times. Garcia was tabbed to be a significant part of Matt Bragga's debut Rice season in 2019, but the big right-hander was lost for the year in a preseason practice in January.
Previously: Owls Rally For Walk-Off Win Over Incarnate Word
HOUSTON — Braden Comeaux picked the perfect time for his first home run of the season, connecting on a three-run jack with one out in the 10th inning to cap off a seven-run rally and give Rice a 15-12 victory over Incarnate Word. Rice scored three in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras. After Joshua Larzabal retired the Cardinals, Ben Dukes led off the bottom of the 10th with a four-pitch walk and Will Karp sacrificed him to second. UIW then intentionally walked Hal Hughes, bringing up Comeaux. After a wild pitch, Comeaux sent the 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. Rice went down 10-3 after two and a third innings. But the Owls put together good at bats, scoring twice in each of the next three innings. They were held scoreless over the next three and entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 12-9. Rice put together three hits along with a walk to score three and send the game into extra innings.
• Rice's seven-run comeback was its largest of the season.
• Rice put together a season-high 19 hits.
• Cade Edwards was 3-for-6 on the night and has now hit safely in a team-high eight games.
• With three RBI, Edwards tied Guy Garibay with his seventh multi-RBI game.
• Josh Larzabal pitched one inning, striking out two for his first career victory.
• Braden Comeaux was 3-for-6 to give him a team-high 14 multiple hit games.
Winning Is Always In Fashion
For the fashion-minded, Rice's 2021 W-L records while wearing the various uniform combinations is as follows:
2-1 in white jersey, 'Rice' in blue Old English
4-3 in gradient white jersey
1-1 in gradient blue jersey with white pants
1-1 in blue jersey, 'Rice' in white Old English and gray pants
1-1 in all gray ('Rice' in blue Old English)
3-4 in pinstripes
1-2-1 in blue top, 'Rice' in Old English and pinstripe pants
1-2 in gray "R" top
0-1 in blue top, 'Rice' in Old English and white pants
0-2 in gradient blue jersey with gray pants
Preseason Accolades For Comeaux
Rice's Braden Comeaux was selected to 2021 Preseason All-Conference USA Baseball Team in the league's annual head coaches' poll, the C-USA office announced on Feb. 11. The Rice graduate who is playing with an added year of eligibility led the Owls in hitting (.349) and slugging percentage (.535) in 2020. He was also second on the on the squad in runs scored (7), on-base average (.404) and home runs (1) – all while playing in just ten of the team's 16 games during that abbreviated collegiate season. Comeaux reached base safely in eight of his ten games played and batted .333 with runners in scoring position. Comeaux has long-had the full attention of the C-USA head-coaches, but now his reputation is growing. On Feb. 10 he was one of just 48 players from across the country named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious 2021 Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award. From its headquarters in the DFW Metroplex, the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation has combined a passion for baseball and providing youngsters with the incentive and opportunity to pursue a college education for more than 25 years. At the conclusion of the season one position player will be presented with the foundation's Slugger Award. Since its inception in 2017 the award is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity.
Rice Since 1999
Using the 1999 season as the starting point (the year the NCAA expanded the postseason tournament field to 64 teams with the current Super Regional format), Rice baseball has maintained one of the nation's top win percentages over the last 22 years. Here's a closer look at the country's winningest programs from 1999-2020 (note: this listing will not be updated to include games played in 2021):
Team Years Wins Loses Ties PCT
Florida State 22 1019 391 1 .723
North Carolina 22 948 406 1 .700
LSU 22 950 432 6 .687
South Carolina 22 938 438 0 .682
Coastal Carolina 22 896 418 2 .682
Rice 22 924 435 2 .680
Miami (Fla.) 22 894 421 3 .679
Oral Roberts 22 849 416 0 .671
Cal St. Fullerton 22 881 434 0 .670
Texas 22 894 450 1 .665
Oregon St. 22 811 422 3 .657
Louisville 22 866 453 1 .656
Arizona St. 22 805 422 2 .656
Georgia Tech 22 858 456 1 .653
Virginia 22 840 446 3 .653
Florida 22 888 474 2 .652
Clemson 22 891 478 1 .651
Players Mentioned
Inf.
/ Baseball
Inf.
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
Inf.
/ Baseball
P
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