Saturday, February 25
Stanford, CA
2:05 p.m.
Rice University
2-4
1
at
11
#2 Stanford
4-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Rice
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
4
1
Stanford
0
2
0
0
1
2
1
5
X
11
13
0
Stanford Edges Rice to Complete Sweep
2/25/2023 11:42:00 PM | Baseball
Next Up: at Sam Houston, Tuesday 6:30
Stanford: Second-ranked Stanford broke a 4-4 tie with three runs in the eighth inning to complete a sweep of Saturday's doubleheader and the weekend series against Rice with a 7-4 win. The Cardinal took Saturday's first game 11-1.
The Details: After being held to just one run in the first game on Saturday, Rice matched that output in its first frame of the nightcap when Drew Holderbach drove in Pierce Gallo. Stanford answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, but Rice answered to tie it in the top of the second as Connor Walsh singled home Paul Smith. The Cardinal moved out to a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second and threatened to break the game open before Justin Long came on in relief of Cristian Cienfuegos with the bases loaded and two outs. He retired Stanford shortstop Malcom Moore on a ground ball to short and then held the Cardinal off the scoreboard over the next four innings as Rice drew even. In the fourth inning, Manny Gaza opened with a single and Smith followed with his second double of the game. Walsh then reached on an error to load the bases and freshman Trey Duffield, making his debut with the Owls, drew a walk to dive in his first career run. Three batters later, Gallo reached on an infield single to score Smith. Walsh attempted to score behind Smith but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Through four innings, Rice had matched its compiled total for runs (4) and hits (8) in the first two games, but the Owls were held to just two hits over the final five innings. Stanford touched reliever Blake Brogdon for three runs in the eighth to take the lead for good.
Mauricio Rodriguez made the start in the first game of the doubleheader and allowed just two runs in 3.2 innings and Rice closed the gap to 2-1 when Jack Riedel scampered home on a wild pitch. But Stanford struck back to score nine runs over the next four innings to put the game out of reach.
Up Next: Rice remains in road grays on Tuesday night when they take on Sam Houston in the second half of a home-and-home with the Bearkats and then games vs. Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and TCU (March 2-5) at Minute Maid Park.
Notes
The Details: After being held to just one run in the first game on Saturday, Rice matched that output in its first frame of the nightcap when Drew Holderbach drove in Pierce Gallo. Stanford answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, but Rice answered to tie it in the top of the second as Connor Walsh singled home Paul Smith. The Cardinal moved out to a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second and threatened to break the game open before Justin Long came on in relief of Cristian Cienfuegos with the bases loaded and two outs. He retired Stanford shortstop Malcom Moore on a ground ball to short and then held the Cardinal off the scoreboard over the next four innings as Rice drew even. In the fourth inning, Manny Gaza opened with a single and Smith followed with his second double of the game. Walsh then reached on an error to load the bases and freshman Trey Duffield, making his debut with the Owls, drew a walk to dive in his first career run. Three batters later, Gallo reached on an infield single to score Smith. Walsh attempted to score behind Smith but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. Through four innings, Rice had matched its compiled total for runs (4) and hits (8) in the first two games, but the Owls were held to just two hits over the final five innings. Stanford touched reliever Blake Brogdon for three runs in the eighth to take the lead for good.
Mauricio Rodriguez made the start in the first game of the doubleheader and allowed just two runs in 3.2 innings and Rice closed the gap to 2-1 when Jack Riedel scampered home on a wild pitch. But Stanford struck back to score nine runs over the next four innings to put the game out of reach.
Up Next: Rice remains in road grays on Tuesday night when they take on Sam Houston in the second half of a home-and-home with the Bearkats and then games vs. Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and TCU (March 2-5) at Minute Maid Park.
Notes
- The sweep extended Stanford's winning streak in the overall series to six and seven at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.
- Justin Long worked a career-best 4.2 innings, scattering four hits while striking out three and not walking any batters.
- After Long gave up a one-out single in the seventh, Tom Vincent came on in relief and needed just one pitch to get a double play and keep the game tied.
- Drew Holderbach was 3x7 in the two games and extended his season-opening hitting streak to seven games.
- Pierce Gallo was 3x9 in the doubleheader and extended his hitting streak to six games.
- Paul Smith was 2x3 with a pair of doubles in his first career start at catcher.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dixon, Joey (1-0)
L: Rodriguez, Mauricio (0-1)
Base Running:
RUNS: Riedel, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Park, Eddie 2 ; Cobb, Owen 1
3B: Bowser, Drew 1
HR: Troy, Tommy 1
RBI: Park, Eddie 2 ; Troy, Tommy 3 ; Sapien, Jake 1 ; Bowser, Drew 1 ; Rios, Alberto 1 ; Campbell, Saborn 1 ; Cobb, Owen 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Park, Eddie 1 ; Troy, Tommy 1 ; Montgomery, Braden 1 ; Moore, Malcolm 3 ; Bowser, Drew 2 ; Saum, Charlie 1 ; Campbell, Saborn 1 ; Cobb, Owen 1
HBP: Moore, Malcolm 2 ; Saum, Charlie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
Inf./OF
/ BaseballWBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02