Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Big Inning Draws Owls Even in Series
4/30/2022 6:03:00 PM | Baseball
Shaw wins his first career start
Reckling Park: Pierce Gallo led a 15-hit Rice attack by going 4x5 and driving in four as the Owls took the middle game of their series with WKU, downing the Hilltoppers 13-8 on Saturday afternoon.
The Details: After being held off the scoreboard until the seventh inning on Friday, the Owls wasted little time in taking control. After WKU scored a run in the second off freshman David Shaw, who was making his first career start, the Owls bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and exploded for 10 in the third. Gallo and Jack Riedel each singled in the second and advanced to second and third on an error. Justin Long then brought home Gallo with a ground out and Hal Hughes followed with a single to plate Riedel and give the Owls a lead they would never relinquish. Shaw responded to the lead by setting down the Hilltoppers in order in the third and then had an extended break as the Owls sent 13 men to the plate while scoring 10 runs on seven hits. Nathan Becker set the tone for the extended inning by grinding out a walk in a 14-pitch at-bat. He advanced to third on a double by Aaron Smigelski and scored on a wild pitch. Gallo singled home Smigelski for his first RBI of the day and drove home two later in the inning with another single. Shaw gave up an unearned run when he returned to the hill after the lengthy inning and then finished his day's work with a scoreless fifth. WKU chipped away at the Owls' lead, closing to 12-7 before the Owls added an insurance run in the seventh on Gallo's fourth RBI of the day.
Notable:
The Details: After being held off the scoreboard until the seventh inning on Friday, the Owls wasted little time in taking control. After WKU scored a run in the second off freshman David Shaw, who was making his first career start, the Owls bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and exploded for 10 in the third. Gallo and Jack Riedel each singled in the second and advanced to second and third on an error. Justin Long then brought home Gallo with a ground out and Hal Hughes followed with a single to plate Riedel and give the Owls a lead they would never relinquish. Shaw responded to the lead by setting down the Hilltoppers in order in the third and then had an extended break as the Owls sent 13 men to the plate while scoring 10 runs on seven hits. Nathan Becker set the tone for the extended inning by grinding out a walk in a 14-pitch at-bat. He advanced to third on a double by Aaron Smigelski and scored on a wild pitch. Gallo singled home Smigelski for his first RBI of the day and drove home two later in the inning with another single. Shaw gave up an unearned run when he returned to the hill after the lengthy inning and then finished his day's work with a scoreless fifth. WKU chipped away at the Owls' lead, closing to 12-7 before the Owls added an insurance run in the seventh on Gallo's fourth RBI of the day.
Notable:
- The win allowed Rice to snap a six-game losing streak against the Hilltoppers and was the Owls first win on Saturday at home this year.
- The 10 runs were the most for the Owls in an inning of a C-USA game since they scored 10 at Charlotte in 2019.
- Rice has scored in double figures in two of its last three home conference games (16 vs. UTSA on 4/17 and 13 vs. WKU today).
- The Owls stole a season-high four bases, the most since they had four steals vs. UAB last season.
- Shaw worked a career-high five innings in his first start (5,3,2,1,1,3) and is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 0.79 WHIP over his last six appearances (14,9,4,3,2,11).
- Gallo's four hits and four RBI matched his career-high set earlier this year. He leads the Owls with three, four-RBI games and is tied for the team lead with a pair of four-hit games. He has driven in 26 runs in his last 27 games after driving in just one in his first 14.
- Austin Bulman was 1x5 and has now hit in 18 of 20 conference games this season.
- Hughes was 2x5 and is now hitting .278 (10x36) at home.
Players Mentioned
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