Rice University
#21 Texas A&M
Owls Wrap Up Series With Aggies on Tuesday
3/21/2023 12:32:00 PM | Baseball
6 pm first pitch
Rice and Texas A&M wrap up a rare three-game regular season series on Tuesday when the Owls travel to College Station. First pitch is set for 6:00 and the game will be broadcast on SECNetwork+. Barring any late travel difficulties, JP Heath will be back on the radio call for Rice with Garrett Jones, who handled the duties last weekend, providing the assist.
How to Follow:
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: Online / Varsity Network JP Heath, Garrett Jones
Live Stats: Sidearm
Pitching Matchup
RHP Garrett Zaskoda (0-0.14.21) vs. RHP Wyatt Tucker (0-0, 1.86)
Owl on the Hill
#38 Garrett Zaskoda
6-0 195 Jr. Sealy, Texas
Making his sixth career start and second this season... Started the second game of the doubleheader at Stanford on 2/25 (1.2, 3,4,4,2,1) but was not involved in the decision... Two starts this year are one shy of his career high of three in 2021 (Texas State, Texas A&M, Incarnate Word)... Tossed 5.1 shutout innings vs. Texas A&M in his only previous start against the Aggies, combining with Drake Greenwood and Guy Garibay Jr. on a two-hit, 2-1 decision on 3/23/21... Worked two innings in relief vs. TAMU at Minute Maid (2,7.5.5.1.2).
Last Time at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park
Garret Zaskoda combined with Drake Greenwood and Guy Garibay Jr. to hold Texas A&M to a pair of hits as Rice took a 2-1 decision on 3/23/21 in the Owls' last visit to College Station. Zaskoda delivered his best collegiate outing with a career-long 5.1 innings and matched his career-high with four strikeouts. Greenwood followed with his best outing of the year, a season-long 2.2 innings and a season-best five strikeouts. Connor Walsh scored the winning run in the ninth and Guy Garibay Jr. came in from right field to pitch the bottom of the ninth and earn the save.
Last Time at Olsen Field (pre-Blue Bell)
Jose Cruz jr. last regular season appearance at the Aggies home field came in his junior year in 1995. He hit .500 in the three games, (5x10) scored four runs, drove in four, walked six times and hit on home run as Rice took two of three games. Earlier that season, he homered and was walked four times while teammate Lance Berkman hit for the cycle in a 21-5 win over Texas A&M (largest margin ever against the Aggies) in a game played at Cougar Field as part of the SWC First Pitch Tournament.
Last Weekend: First Sweep of a Conference Opener since 2015
Rice scored a pair of runs in the 10th inning on Sunday to complete a sweep of UAB with a 3-1 win, the Owls' first sweep on an opening weekend of conference play since they won all three games at Charlotte in 2015. Rice held UAB to a single run in each game, the fewest runs allowed by the staff since holding FIU to three runs in the final three games of last year. Rice relievers worked 18.0 scoreless innings in the series (18, 7, 0,0,6,20) while picking up three wins and two saves. The Owls held UAB to three runs in three games despite allowing at least one baserunner in 22 of 27 innings over the weekend. Outfielder Benjamin Rosengard, who came into the game 6x53 in two seasons on South Main, was 6x13 in the series and the bottom three spots in the order were 9x34 with five walks, a homer, and four RBI
In the Middle of the Week
Rice is 3-3 this season in weeknight action, taking a home-and-home series with Sam Houston and downing UTRGV while losing to Texas A&M at Reckling Park and Baylor in Waco.
Bullish
Over the last four games, the Owls bullpen is 3-0 with two saves and a combined 0.58 ERA (31, 13, 3, 2, 11, 36).
Big Weekend Ahead
In addition to opening the final home season of Conference USA baseball by hosting conference co-leader UTSA, Rice Baseball will also welcome back the members of the 2003 College World Series champions for a 20th reunion of their historic achievement. Friday's opening game with UTSA has been moved up to 3 p.m. to avoid conflict with the formal reception on Friday evening. Members of the team and their families will also be the guests of honor at a pregame tailgate on Saturday all members of the team will be introduced on the field in pregame ceremonies before Saturday's 2 p.m. first pitch.
