Friday, February 24
Stanford, CA
4 p.m.
Rice University
at
#2 Stanford
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Owls and Cardinal Renew Series
2/24/2023 12:53:00 AM | Baseball
Singe game on Friday followed by doubleheader on Saturday
Road Stretch Opens at Stanford
Rice returns to Stanford for the first time since 2018 when the Owls and Cardinals open a three-game series on Friday at 4:05, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch on Saturday is set for 2:05 with the second game starting 45 minutes after the completion of the first game.
How to Follow:
Watch: Friday (Pac 12 Networks)/ Saturday (Stanford Live Stream 2)
Listen: Online / Varsity Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Pitching Matchup
Friday: RHP Parker Smith (0-0, 4.50) vs. LHP Quinn Matthews (0-1, 3.60)
Saturday: TBA vs. LHP Drew Dowd (0-0, 4.50) & RHP Ty Uber (0-0, 3.38)
Owl on the Hill
#26 Parker Smith
6-4 230 So. Houston, Texas
Worked six innings against Louisiana in his debut in the Friday starting slot (6,5,3,31,5)... Matched his career-high with five strikeouts, three of them in three shutout innings after giving up three runs in the third... Appeared in 13 games with 10 starts (tied for second on the team) in his freshman campaign… Finished the season with a 2-3 record and a 4.19 ERA, tops among the starters… Was 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA in four games (three starts) in Conference USA action… Winning pitcher in the Owls' first and last wins of 2022… Made his collegiate debut at Texas on 2/20 and his starting debut three days later against HBU… Worked six shutout innings, allowed a pair of hits and struck out four while throwing just 56 pitches to earn both his and head coach Jose Cruz Jr.'s first career victories… Closed the season with a win at FIU in the season finale, (5.1, 3,1,0,1,0)… 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in seven games (five starts) on the road while holding hitters to a .226 batting average.
Away For A While
The Stanford series if the first of seven games away from Reckling Park for Rice over the next 10 days. After the three games with The Cardinal, the Owls have a game at Sam Houston next Tuesday and then games vs. Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and TCU (March 2-5) at Minute Maid Park.
Rice-Stanford Series Notes
Rice and Stanford have met 33 times in a series that began with a Stanford sweep in 1991. The Cardinal lead the overall series 21-12, including a 13-3 lead at home. They have split 14 games at Reckling Park, while Rice has a 2-1 lead in games played at the College World Series. The Owls dropped their first eight games at Sunken Diamond until Jordan Stephens and J.T. Chargois combined on a four-hit shutout in a 1-0 win here on 3/11/12. Rice has lost four of the five series played here, capturing their only series in 2014 by taking the first two games.
Rice vs. Stanford (12-21)
2/16/1991 Palo Alto, Calif. L 5-6
2/17/1991 Palo Alto, Calif. L 4-10
2/18/1991 Palo Alto, Calif. L 2-3
6/21/2003# Omaha, Neb. W 4-3 (10)
6/22/2003# Omaha, Neb. L 3-8
6/23/2003# Omaha, Neb. W 14-2
2/19/2010 Palo Alto, Calif. L 4-6
2/20/2010 Palo Alto, Calif. L 5-14
2/20/2010 Palo Alto, Calif. L 6-7
2/18/2011 Reckling Park L 3-5
2/19/2011 Reckling Park W 7-1
2/20/2011 Reckling Park L 2-6
3/9/2012 Palo Alto, Calif. L 2-4 (10)
3/10/2012 Palo Alto, Calif. L 6-11
3/11/2012 Palo Alto, Calif. W 1-0
2/15/2013 Reckling Park W 5-1
2/16/2013 Reckling Park L 2-3
2/17/2013 Reckling Park W 3-0
2/14/2014 Palo Alto, Calif. W 10-3
2/15/2014 Palo Alto, Calif. W 5-1
2/16/2014 Palo Alto, Calif. L 3-12
2/27/2015 Reckling Park L 3-5
2/28/2015 Reckling Park W 11-6
2/28/2015 Reckling Park L 1-3
3/1/2015 Reckling Park W 12-1
3/9/2017 Reckling Park L 6-16
3/10/2017 Reckling Park W 4-0
3/12/2017 Reckling Park L 0-2 (7)
3/12/2017 Reckling Park W 12-2
2/22/2018 Palo Alto, Calif. L 2-7
2/23/2018 Palo Alto, Calif. L 2-6
2/24/2018 Palo Alto, Calif. L 4-7
2/25/2018 Palo Alto, Calif. L 0-2
#College World Series
Game Notes
New and Old Faces on the Staff
Associate head coach Paul Janish is the veteran of the Owls coaching staff, entering his sixth season at his alma mater after concluding a 13-year playing career that included stints with Cincinnati, Atlanta and Baltimore. Rob Hardy is in his second season with the Owls, his first as an assistant coach after coming to Rice last season as the Director of Player Development. Pitching coach Parker Bangs is in his first season on South Main after four seasons at Davidson, where his staff led the conference and finished eighth nationally with a 3.86.The newest addition to the staff is former South Carolina infielder DC Arendas as the Owls' new Director of Player Development.
They Know the Feeling
Associate head coach Paul Janish and pitching coach Parker Bangs both own College World Series championship rings. Janish was the starting shortstop for the Owls' 2003 CWS winners while Bangs pitched for South Carolina's 2010 National Champions.
Lehman Named Dodgers Bench Coach
Former Owls catcher Danny Lehman, a three-year starter from 2005-07 who has been a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' staff since 2015 will serve as manager Dave Roberts' bench coach this season, replacing former major leaguer Bob Geren.
Formidable Slate Ahead
Rice faced the 52nd toughest schedule in the nation last year, the highest since they faced the 24th toughest in 2018. This year's lineup of 34 teams averaged 33 wins last year, highlighted by three games at Stanford (2022 CWS), two vs. Texas A&M (2022 CWS) and three-game series against NCAA tournament teams Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and Dallas Baptist.
Clearing the Bases
The Owls have hit their last five grand slams at Reckling Park:
Rice returns to Stanford for the first time since 2018 when the Owls and Cardinals open a three-game series on Friday at 4:05, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch on Saturday is set for 2:05 with the second game starting 45 minutes after the completion of the first game.
How to Follow:
Watch: Friday (Pac 12 Networks)/ Saturday (Stanford Live Stream 2)
Listen: Online / Varsity Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Pitching Matchup
Friday: RHP Parker Smith (0-0, 4.50) vs. LHP Quinn Matthews (0-1, 3.60)
Saturday: TBA vs. LHP Drew Dowd (0-0, 4.50) & RHP Ty Uber (0-0, 3.38)
Owl on the Hill
#26 Parker Smith
6-4 230 So. Houston, Texas
Worked six innings against Louisiana in his debut in the Friday starting slot (6,5,3,31,5)... Matched his career-high with five strikeouts, three of them in three shutout innings after giving up three runs in the third... Appeared in 13 games with 10 starts (tied for second on the team) in his freshman campaign… Finished the season with a 2-3 record and a 4.19 ERA, tops among the starters… Was 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA in four games (three starts) in Conference USA action… Winning pitcher in the Owls' first and last wins of 2022… Made his collegiate debut at Texas on 2/20 and his starting debut three days later against HBU… Worked six shutout innings, allowed a pair of hits and struck out four while throwing just 56 pitches to earn both his and head coach Jose Cruz Jr.'s first career victories… Closed the season with a win at FIU in the season finale, (5.1, 3,1,0,1,0)… 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in seven games (five starts) on the road while holding hitters to a .226 batting average.
Away For A While
The Stanford series if the first of seven games away from Reckling Park for Rice over the next 10 days. After the three games with The Cardinal, the Owls have a game at Sam Houston next Tuesday and then games vs. Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and TCU (March 2-5) at Minute Maid Park.
Rice-Stanford Series Notes
Rice and Stanford have met 33 times in a series that began with a Stanford sweep in 1991. The Cardinal lead the overall series 21-12, including a 13-3 lead at home. They have split 14 games at Reckling Park, while Rice has a 2-1 lead in games played at the College World Series. The Owls dropped their first eight games at Sunken Diamond until Jordan Stephens and J.T. Chargois combined on a four-hit shutout in a 1-0 win here on 3/11/12. Rice has lost four of the five series played here, capturing their only series in 2014 by taking the first two games.
Rice vs. Stanford (12-21)
2/16/1991 Palo Alto, Calif. L 5-6
2/17/1991 Palo Alto, Calif. L 4-10
2/18/1991 Palo Alto, Calif. L 2-3
6/21/2003# Omaha, Neb. W 4-3 (10)
6/22/2003# Omaha, Neb. L 3-8
6/23/2003# Omaha, Neb. W 14-2
2/19/2010 Palo Alto, Calif. L 4-6
2/20/2010 Palo Alto, Calif. L 5-14
2/20/2010 Palo Alto, Calif. L 6-7
2/18/2011 Reckling Park L 3-5
2/19/2011 Reckling Park W 7-1
2/20/2011 Reckling Park L 2-6
3/9/2012 Palo Alto, Calif. L 2-4 (10)
3/10/2012 Palo Alto, Calif. L 6-11
3/11/2012 Palo Alto, Calif. W 1-0
2/15/2013 Reckling Park W 5-1
2/16/2013 Reckling Park L 2-3
2/17/2013 Reckling Park W 3-0
2/14/2014 Palo Alto, Calif. W 10-3
2/15/2014 Palo Alto, Calif. W 5-1
2/16/2014 Palo Alto, Calif. L 3-12
2/27/2015 Reckling Park L 3-5
2/28/2015 Reckling Park W 11-6
2/28/2015 Reckling Park L 1-3
3/1/2015 Reckling Park W 12-1
3/9/2017 Reckling Park L 6-16
3/10/2017 Reckling Park W 4-0
3/12/2017 Reckling Park L 0-2 (7)
3/12/2017 Reckling Park W 12-2
2/22/2018 Palo Alto, Calif. L 2-7
2/23/2018 Palo Alto, Calif. L 2-6
2/24/2018 Palo Alto, Calif. L 4-7
2/25/2018 Palo Alto, Calif. L 0-2
#College World Series
Game Notes
New and Old Faces on the Staff
Associate head coach Paul Janish is the veteran of the Owls coaching staff, entering his sixth season at his alma mater after concluding a 13-year playing career that included stints with Cincinnati, Atlanta and Baltimore. Rob Hardy is in his second season with the Owls, his first as an assistant coach after coming to Rice last season as the Director of Player Development. Pitching coach Parker Bangs is in his first season on South Main after four seasons at Davidson, where his staff led the conference and finished eighth nationally with a 3.86.The newest addition to the staff is former South Carolina infielder DC Arendas as the Owls' new Director of Player Development.
They Know the Feeling
Associate head coach Paul Janish and pitching coach Parker Bangs both own College World Series championship rings. Janish was the starting shortstop for the Owls' 2003 CWS winners while Bangs pitched for South Carolina's 2010 National Champions.
Lehman Named Dodgers Bench Coach
Former Owls catcher Danny Lehman, a three-year starter from 2005-07 who has been a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' staff since 2015 will serve as manager Dave Roberts' bench coach this season, replacing former major leaguer Bob Geren.
Formidable Slate Ahead
Rice faced the 52nd toughest schedule in the nation last year, the highest since they faced the 24th toughest in 2018. This year's lineup of 34 teams averaged 33 wins last year, highlighted by three games at Stanford (2022 CWS), two vs. Texas A&M (2022 CWS) and three-game series against NCAA tournament teams Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and Dallas Baptist.
Clearing the Bases
The Owls have hit their last five grand slams at Reckling Park:
- Nathan Becker, 5th inning vs. SFA 3/15
- Guy Garibay Jr. 2nd inning vs. SFA 3/15
- Austin Bulman, 8th inning vs. Lamar 2/27
- Hal Hughes. 1st inning vs. Charlotte 5/16/21
- Connor Walsh, 8th inning vs. Southern 3/19/21
Players Mentioned
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Inf./OF
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