Rice University
Sam Houston
Owls Host Bearkats on Tuesday
2/19/2024 6:23:00 PM | Baseball
Opening homestand concludes
Homestand Wraps With Sam Houston
Rice closes out its season-opening, four-game homestand by welcoming Sam Houston to Reckling Park. The opening homestand of the season kicks off a stretch of nine home games in the first 12 contests of 2024. The Owls will be on the road this weekend for three games in Lafayette against Louisiana and then return to Reckling to close out February with the first appearance of defending national champion LSU on campus since Rice swept the Tigers with a pair of shutouts in the 2002 Super Regional to advance to the College World Series. Stanford follows LSU to Reckling for a three-game series (March1-3) before the extended home action closes with a game vs. Prairie View on March 5.
Watch ESPN+
Listen: Online / Varsity Network
Live Stats: Sidearm
Full Game Notes: RiceOwls.com
On the Air
All Rice games are available over the internet at RiceOwls.com and on the Varsity Network app. J.P. Heath will be back for his 16th season calling games with an assist on basketball conflict days by Jason Metko. All home games will also be carried on ESPN+ for the first time in 2024. Heath will provide simulcast coverage for ESPN+ on Tuesday.
Owls and Bearkats
With a 3-1 win at Reckling on February 22 last season and an 11-4 win at Don Sanders Stadium in Huntsville six days later, Rice swept the season slate with Sam Houston in consecutive years for the first time since the Owls moved into Reckling Park. The last time the Owls posted sweeps in consecutive years was in 1996 & 1997 and after not meeting in 1998, Rice took both games in 1999.
Pitching Matchup
RHP Ryland Urbanczyk (0-1, 6.12) vs. LHP Gavi Coldiron (2-3, 6.71)
Owl on the Hill
#25 Ryland Urbanczyk
6-1, 215 So. College Station, Texas (College Station HS)
Making his 2024 debut, third career start, and second career appearance vs. Sam Houston... Struck out the side in one inning vs. the Bearkats on 2/28.23, the first of four games with three strikeouts in his freshman year …. Worked primarily out of the bullpen in his freshman season with 14 relief appearances… Made his debut with three innings in relief vs. Louisiana on 2/18 (3,6,2,2,0,2)... Worked a career-high four innings vs. Lamar on 4/11 (4,2,0,0,0,0,0) and followed that with two shutout innings vs. Charlotte on 4/16 in his starting debut (2,0,0,0,3,3)… 0-1 with a 4.80 ERA in eight games (one start) at Reckling… Took the loss vs. Incarnate Word on 5/9/23 in his second and final start (1.2,4,4,4,2,3).
