Thursday, March 28
Wichita, KS
6:00 p.m.
Rice University
at
Wichita State
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Owls and Shockers Open Series on Thursday
3/28/2024 9:56:00 AM | Baseball
Day games on Friday and Saturday
Road Weekend
Rice opens the weekend portion of five straight away from Reckling Park with the Owls' first visit to Wichita, KS since 1996 to take on Wichita State in a Thursday-Saturday series due to Easter Weekend. The first three-game series between the schools opens at 6 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a Kids' Day game at 11 a.m. on Friday, and wraps with a noon finale on Saturday. The road stretch concludes with the final game of the Silver Glove Series vs. Houston at Schroeder Park on April 2. The Owls return to Reckling on April 5 when they open a three-game series with Memphis.
Watch ESPN+
Listen: Online / Varsity Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Full Game Notes: RiceOwls.com
On the Air
J.P. Heath returns for his 16th season behind the mic full-time with the conclusion of the men's basketball season and will be behind the mic this weekend. All three games will be available on ESPN+ with Shane Dennis on the call on Thursday and Saturday and Denning Gerig calling the action on Friday afternoon.
Pitching Matchups
Thursday: RHP Tucker Alch (0-0, 0.00/0.67) vs. RHP Brady Hamilton (1-2, 3.32/1.32)
Friday: RHP Parker Smith (2-2, 3.52/1.37) vs. LHP Caden Favors (4-1, 2.83/1.16)
Saturday: LHP J.D. McCracken (2-2, 3.28/1.37) vs. RHP Tommy LaPour (2-1, 4.94/1.27)
Owls and Shockers
The schools will be meeting for the first time since the 2003 Regional at Rice when the Owls began their march to the College World Series championship by defeating WSU in the winner's bracket on Saturday, 10-1, and in the regional championship game, 5-2. Those two wins were the first for Rice in the series with the Shockers, who took two games from the Owls at Cameron Field in 1986 (8-7, 4-1). The teams met again in the 1996 regional final held in Wichita, with WSU advancing to Omaha with a 16-5 win.
Familiar Territory
Rice centerfielder Kyte McDonald was a second-team, All-AAC selection last year while playing at Wichita State. He hit .313 with 21 stolen bases 12 doubles, and two home runs last season and was the first Shocker since 2015 to steal at least 20 bases in a season. McDonald leads the Owls with a .371 average this year on the road and hit .382 at WSU's Eck Stadium when it was his home field in 2023.
In the AAC Stats
McDonald is tied for the AAC lead with two triples and is fifth in at-bats (105)... Jack Riedel is tied for third with seven home runs... Nathan Becker is fourth with 20 walks... J.D. McCracken is one of three conference starters who have met the minimum and has not given up a home run and is tied for fifth with 35.2 innings and ninth with 34 strikeouts... Davion Hickson is tied for third with four saves (T-22nd nationally)... Manny Garza leads the AAC with eight runners caught stealing, and second with 226 total chances, and 201 putouts... Treyton Rank is second with 20 double plays.
Rice opens the weekend portion of five straight away from Reckling Park with the Owls' first visit to Wichita, KS since 1996 to take on Wichita State in a Thursday-Saturday series due to Easter Weekend. The first three-game series between the schools opens at 6 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a Kids' Day game at 11 a.m. on Friday, and wraps with a noon finale on Saturday. The road stretch concludes with the final game of the Silver Glove Series vs. Houston at Schroeder Park on April 2. The Owls return to Reckling on April 5 when they open a three-game series with Memphis.
Watch ESPN+
Listen: Online / Varsity Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Full Game Notes: RiceOwls.com
On the Air
J.P. Heath returns for his 16th season behind the mic full-time with the conclusion of the men's basketball season and will be behind the mic this weekend. All three games will be available on ESPN+ with Shane Dennis on the call on Thursday and Saturday and Denning Gerig calling the action on Friday afternoon.
Pitching Matchups
Thursday: RHP Tucker Alch (0-0, 0.00/0.67) vs. RHP Brady Hamilton (1-2, 3.32/1.32)
Friday: RHP Parker Smith (2-2, 3.52/1.37) vs. LHP Caden Favors (4-1, 2.83/1.16)
Saturday: LHP J.D. McCracken (2-2, 3.28/1.37) vs. RHP Tommy LaPour (2-1, 4.94/1.27)
Owls and Shockers
The schools will be meeting for the first time since the 2003 Regional at Rice when the Owls began their march to the College World Series championship by defeating WSU in the winner's bracket on Saturday, 10-1, and in the regional championship game, 5-2. Those two wins were the first for Rice in the series with the Shockers, who took two games from the Owls at Cameron Field in 1986 (8-7, 4-1). The teams met again in the 1996 regional final held in Wichita, with WSU advancing to Omaha with a 16-5 win.
Familiar Territory
Rice centerfielder Kyte McDonald was a second-team, All-AAC selection last year while playing at Wichita State. He hit .313 with 21 stolen bases 12 doubles, and two home runs last season and was the first Shocker since 2015 to steal at least 20 bases in a season. McDonald leads the Owls with a .371 average this year on the road and hit .382 at WSU's Eck Stadium when it was his home field in 2023.
In the AAC Stats
McDonald is tied for the AAC lead with two triples and is fifth in at-bats (105)... Jack Riedel is tied for third with seven home runs... Nathan Becker is fourth with 20 walks... J.D. McCracken is one of three conference starters who have met the minimum and has not given up a home run and is tied for fifth with 35.2 innings and ninth with 34 strikeouts... Davion Hickson is tied for third with four saves (T-22nd nationally)... Manny Garza leads the AAC with eight runners caught stealing, and second with 226 total chances, and 201 putouts... Treyton Rank is second with 20 double plays.
Players Mentioned
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