Friday, February 14
Ponce, Puerto Rico
6:35 PM
Rice University
vs
Villanova
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Owls Break New Ground in 2025 Opener
2/13/2025 7:49:00 PM | Baseball
Face Villanova, Michigan and Virginia in Puerto Rico
Owls Break New Ground in 2025 Opener
Rice opens its 110th college baseball season in a decidedly new venue as the Owls join seven other schools in the first Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge, Friday through Sunday. Rice joins Villanova, Michigan, and Virginia in Ponce, while UConn, Missouri, Stetson, and Penn State will meet in Caguas. The Owls close out the first and third days of competition, taking on Villanova (6 p.m. central) on Friday and second-ranked Virginia on Sunday (5 p.m.), with an early start on Saturday against Michigan at 11 a.m.
Hot Links
Watch ESPN+ : Villanova / Michigan / Virginia
Listen:Online / Varsity Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
Full Game Notes: RiceOwls.com
On the Air
All Rice games in Puerto Rico will be available over the internet at RiceOwls.com and on the Varsity Network app. Jason Metko will handle the play-by-play, while J.P. Heath will join former Owl Enrique
Cruz to call the action for all games from Ponce on ESPN+.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: RHP Davion Hickson (3-2, 3.62, 27 G at Rice) vs. Bobby Olsen (0-0, 9.82, 13 G at Nebraska)
Saturday: Robert Fernandez (0-4, 3.86, 9 G at Rice) vs. TBA
Sunday: J.D. McCracken (4-7, 5.35, 16 G at Rice ) vs. Tomas Valincius (Freshman)
Series Histories
This will be the first meeting between Rice and Villanova, while the Owls are 2-0 against Michigan and 0-2 all-time against Virginia. The Owls and Wolverines first met in 1996 at Cameron Field and Rice blasted the Maize and Blue 21-4 in 1996 and then won 5-1 in 1998 on the Owls ' home field. Rice and Virginia met for the first time in history earlier in the 1998 season, with the Cavilers edging the Owls 3-2 in the first game of the Rice Classic. They last met in 2018 at UCF's season-opening tournament, with Virginia winning 3-0.
A Homecoming Opener
Playing at Ponce's Francisco Montaner Stadium will have special meaning for Rice head coach Jose Cruz Jr. and infielders Hiram Bocachica Jr. and Javier Vazquez. Cruz played multiple seasons for the Leones de Ponce in the Puerto Rican Winter League, including several for his father, Jose Cruz Sr., who managed the team from 2001-02 to 2006-07. He was joined by his brother Enrique in playing for their father in 2005, and his son Trei played in Ponce in the winter of 2023 & 2024 before missing this year while recuperating from an injury. The fathers of both players (Hiram Bocachica Sr. and Javier Vazquez) also played in
the winter league for Ponce. Cruz represents the second generation of one of Puerto Rico's most famous Major League families as his father, Jose Sr., and uncles Héctor Cruz and Tommy Cruz all reached the majors. Jose Sr. remains one of the most popular players in Houston Astros history and has been a fixture in the organization for nearly 50 years and led Ponce to a berth in the Caribbean Series in 2005. Montreal took Hiram Bocachica Sr. with the 21st pick in the first round of the 1994 MLB Draft, while Vazquez won over 165 major league games from 1998-2011 with the Expos, Yankees, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Braves, and Marlins. He struck out more than 200 hitters five times, including 238 with Atlanta in 2009. He was named to the 2004 American League team for the All-Star Game.
Stout Start
In its first 11 games of 2025, Rice will face teams with a combined 19 NCAA tournament appearances since 2021, including two of the last four College World Series champions and five who finished in the top 35 in RPI last season. After facing Virginia (RPI 9) and Michigan (87) in Puerto Rico The Owls will host Arizona (35) and USC (76) at Reckling Park before meeting both teams that played for the 2024 NCAA title (Tennessee and Texas A&M) and 2021 CWS champ Mississippi State (RPI 19) at the Astros Foundation College Classic.
Up Next
Rice returns to Houston on Monday night and turns around to host Sam Houston in the 2025 home schedule on Tuesday at 6:30, opening a stretch of 19 consecutive games in Houston that features weekend series at Reckling Park vs. USC (February 21-23), Yale (March 7-9) and HCU (March 14-16) as well as three games at the 2025 Astros' Foundation Classic against Mississippi State (February 28), defending CWS champion Tennessee (March 1), and 2024 CWS finalist Texas A&M (March 2).
Rice opens its 110th college baseball season in a decidedly new venue as the Owls join seven other schools in the first Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge, Friday through Sunday. Rice joins Villanova, Michigan, and Virginia in Ponce, while UConn, Missouri, Stetson, and Penn State will meet in Caguas. The Owls close out the first and third days of competition, taking on Villanova (6 p.m. central) on Friday and second-ranked Virginia on Sunday (5 p.m.), with an early start on Saturday against Michigan at 11 a.m.
Hot Links
Watch ESPN+ : Villanova / Michigan / Virginia
Listen:Online / Varsity Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
Full Game Notes: RiceOwls.com
On the Air
All Rice games in Puerto Rico will be available over the internet at RiceOwls.com and on the Varsity Network app. Jason Metko will handle the play-by-play, while J.P. Heath will join former Owl Enrique
Cruz to call the action for all games from Ponce on ESPN+.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: RHP Davion Hickson (3-2, 3.62, 27 G at Rice) vs. Bobby Olsen (0-0, 9.82, 13 G at Nebraska)
Saturday: Robert Fernandez (0-4, 3.86, 9 G at Rice) vs. TBA
Sunday: J.D. McCracken (4-7, 5.35, 16 G at Rice ) vs. Tomas Valincius (Freshman)
Series Histories
This will be the first meeting between Rice and Villanova, while the Owls are 2-0 against Michigan and 0-2 all-time against Virginia. The Owls and Wolverines first met in 1996 at Cameron Field and Rice blasted the Maize and Blue 21-4 in 1996 and then won 5-1 in 1998 on the Owls ' home field. Rice and Virginia met for the first time in history earlier in the 1998 season, with the Cavilers edging the Owls 3-2 in the first game of the Rice Classic. They last met in 2018 at UCF's season-opening tournament, with Virginia winning 3-0.
A Homecoming Opener
Playing at Ponce's Francisco Montaner Stadium will have special meaning for Rice head coach Jose Cruz Jr. and infielders Hiram Bocachica Jr. and Javier Vazquez. Cruz played multiple seasons for the Leones de Ponce in the Puerto Rican Winter League, including several for his father, Jose Cruz Sr., who managed the team from 2001-02 to 2006-07. He was joined by his brother Enrique in playing for their father in 2005, and his son Trei played in Ponce in the winter of 2023 & 2024 before missing this year while recuperating from an injury. The fathers of both players (Hiram Bocachica Sr. and Javier Vazquez) also played in
the winter league for Ponce. Cruz represents the second generation of one of Puerto Rico's most famous Major League families as his father, Jose Sr., and uncles Héctor Cruz and Tommy Cruz all reached the majors. Jose Sr. remains one of the most popular players in Houston Astros history and has been a fixture in the organization for nearly 50 years and led Ponce to a berth in the Caribbean Series in 2005. Montreal took Hiram Bocachica Sr. with the 21st pick in the first round of the 1994 MLB Draft, while Vazquez won over 165 major league games from 1998-2011 with the Expos, Yankees, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Braves, and Marlins. He struck out more than 200 hitters five times, including 238 with Atlanta in 2009. He was named to the 2004 American League team for the All-Star Game.
Stout Start
In its first 11 games of 2025, Rice will face teams with a combined 19 NCAA tournament appearances since 2021, including two of the last four College World Series champions and five who finished in the top 35 in RPI last season. After facing Virginia (RPI 9) and Michigan (87) in Puerto Rico The Owls will host Arizona (35) and USC (76) at Reckling Park before meeting both teams that played for the 2024 NCAA title (Tennessee and Texas A&M) and 2021 CWS champ Mississippi State (RPI 19) at the Astros Foundation College Classic.
Up Next
Rice returns to Houston on Monday night and turns around to host Sam Houston in the 2025 home schedule on Tuesday at 6:30, opening a stretch of 19 consecutive games in Houston that features weekend series at Reckling Park vs. USC (February 21-23), Yale (March 7-9) and HCU (March 14-16) as well as three games at the 2025 Astros' Foundation Classic against Mississippi State (February 28), defending CWS champion Tennessee (March 1), and 2024 CWS finalist Texas A&M (March 2).
Players Mentioned
INF
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RHP
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RHP
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INF
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