Saturday, May 3
2 PM
Rice University
14-33, 0
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Charlotte
26-20, 0
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Charlotte
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RICE
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Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
West's Blast Clinches Series
5/3/2025 6:24:00 PM | Baseball
Two-run homer in the eighth breaks 5-5 tie
Reckling Park: Landon West's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth broke a 5-5 tie, and Jack Ben-Shoshan made it stand up to lead Rice to a 7-6, come-from-behind win over Charlotte on Saturday and clinch the series for the Owls.
How it Happened: Charlotte jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a two-run homer by Connor Mayniak in the first inning, but Rice fought back to take a 3-2 lead in its half of the second. Treyton Rank singled with one out and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Hiram Bocachica Jr. to put runners on the corners. Jacob Devenny then pulled a two-strike pitch to the right side of the infield to bring in Rank with the first run for Rice. Cole Green followed with a home run to left, his third of the year, to put Rice ahead 3-2. Charlotte jumped back in front in the third with two runs, the second coming on a bases-loaded walk with one out. Garrett Stratton relieved starter J.D. McCracken and slammed the door on any further scoring by getting a pop out to first base and a ground out. The Owls tied it in their half of the fourth to move back in front as Rank and Bocachica both scored on a long fly out to deep center by Green that was caught by 49er centerfielder Spencer Nolan before he slammed into the centerfield wall. Stratton held Charlotte scoreless for the next two innings before turning the game over to Ben-Shoshan. Charlotte reliever Joseph Taylor did the same for the 49ers from the fifth through the seventh, but Michael Zito opened the bottom of the eighth with a single. He moved into scoring position by stealing second as Paul Smith struck out, setting the stage for West's game-winner. The sophomore catcher fouled off a 1-2 pitch before sending the next pitch over the wall in left center. Ben-Shoshan allowed a leadoff single and a two-out, pinch-hit single cut the margin to one, but he retired pinch hitter Caleb Estes on a groundout to third to end the game.
Up Next: Rice and Charlotte wrap up the series on Sunday at noon.
Notes
- Rice improved to 8-12 in the AAC, 15-15 all-time vs. Charlotte, and 8-8 vs. the 49ers at Reckling Park.
- The Owls won the series vs. Charlotte for the first time since 2017. The 49ers had won five three-game series since then in addition to splitting the four-game series in 2020.
- Green drove in a career-high four runs with this two-run homer and two-run sacrifice fly.
- Collin Robson, Hiram Bocachica Jr., and Michael Zito each stole a base in the game to give Rice 50 this season, the most by Rice in a season since they stole 60 in 2010.
- Bocachica's steal was his 12th, the most by a Rice freshman since Tyler Henley had 12 in 2005.
- Zito's eighth-inning single extended his hitting streak in conference games to 17 games.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ben-Shoshan, Jack (3-2)
L: Taylor, J. (2-6)
Batting:
2B: Gunderson 1 ; Riley 1
HR: Maryniak 1
RBI: Maryniak 2 ; Gunderson 1 ; Furcht 1 ; Riley 1 ; Rivera 1
SH: Poteet 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bayne 2 ; Maryniak 1 ; Gunderson 1 ; Bryce 1 ; Furcht 1
HBP: Bryce 1
Batting:
HR: West, Landon 1 ; Green, Cole 1
RBI: West, Landon 2 ; Devenny, Jacob 1 ; Green, Cole 4
SH: Devenny, Jacob 1
SF: Green, Cole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zito, Michael 1 ; West, Landon 1 ; Rank, Treyton 2 ; Bocachica Jr., Hiram 2 ; Green, Cole 1
SB: Robson, Colin 1 ; Zito, Michael 1 ; Bocachica Jr., Hiram 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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