Friday, March 31
Boca Raton, FL
5:30 PM
Rice University
14-12, 0
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FAU
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Rice
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Florida Atlantic
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Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Smith Dazzles in 1-0 Win over FAU
3/31/2023 9:42:00 PM | Baseball
Career-high 8.2 innings and 9 strikeouts
Boca Raton: Parker Smith and Matthew Linskey combined for the first Conference USA shutout of Florida Atlantic at home since 2017 and Connor Walsh's sixth-inning homer provided the only run the duo required as Rice took the opener of the weekend meeting of Owls, 1-0 on Friday night.
The Details: Smith, who had never worked more than 6.1 innings in his career, carried his bid for a complete game shutout to within one out in the ninth before Linskey was called on with the winning run at the plate to get the final out. He threw 114 pitches, 81 for strikes and did not walk a batter while striking out a career-high nine. He scattered seven hits but only allowed one runner to reach second base, when Nolan Schanuel and Jackson Ross scratched out back-to-back singles in the fourth. Smith responded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat. He cruised his way to the ninth, facing one over the minimum before a two-out single in the ninth brought Linskey into the game. The junior reliever needed only two pitches to retire Caleb Pendleton for his second save. Rice was held to three hits, but they only needed Walsh's opposite-field shot in the sixth to win the game.
Notes:
The Details: Smith, who had never worked more than 6.1 innings in his career, carried his bid for a complete game shutout to within one out in the ninth before Linskey was called on with the winning run at the plate to get the final out. He threw 114 pitches, 81 for strikes and did not walk a batter while striking out a career-high nine. He scattered seven hits but only allowed one runner to reach second base, when Nolan Schanuel and Jackson Ross scratched out back-to-back singles in the fourth. Smith responded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat. He cruised his way to the ninth, facing one over the minimum before a two-out single in the ninth brought Linskey into the game. The junior reliever needed only two pitches to retire Caleb Pendleton for his second save. Rice was held to three hits, but they only needed Walsh's opposite-field shot in the sixth to win the game.
Notes:
- FAU had not been shutout at home since 3/5/21 vs. FGCU, vs. a C-USA opponent since 5/26/19 vs. Southern Miss at the C-USA Tournament, and in a conference game at home since Marshall on 4/16/17.
- It was Rice's first 1-0 win since 3/14/21 vs. Kansas State when Brandon Deskins and Dalton Wood combined to blank the Wildcats.
- Rice is now 4-3 on Fridays. 3-3 in series openers
- The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for Rice against FAU. Rice last defeated FAU 5-4 on 5/25/18 at the C-USA Tournament.
- Rice's last three wins vs. FAU came in the C-USA tournament and had not won a regular season game since a 5-4 win in Boca Raton 4/1/17.
- Rice improved to 14-12 this season after not reaching 14 wins last year until the 59th game of the year (5/17/22 at Houston).
- Rice was 11-7 in March.
- Smith's outing was the longest by a Rice pitcher since Matt Canterino tossed a complete game vs. FIU on 4/5/19.
- The shutout lowered Rice's ERA in C-USA games to 2.32.
- Walsh's home run gives Rice 16 long balls in the last nine games.
- Manny Garza threw out his 11th runner in 20 stolen base attempts this season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Parker (2-1)
L: COOLEY, Hunter (3-4)
S: Linskey, Matthew (2)
Batting:
2B: Gallo, Pierce 1
HR: Walsh, Connor 1
RBI: Walsh, Connor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walsh, Connor 1
Base Running:
CS: PHELPS, Lucas 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
dh
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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