Rice Defeats South Florida in Conference Opener

Friday, March 20

Tampa, FL

5:35 pm

Rice University

14-9, 1-0

USF

18-4, 0-1

RICE

South Florida

Rice Defeats South Florida in Conference Opener

3/20/2026 9:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Tim Andrzejewski (tra3@rice.edu)

TAMPA, Fla. — Tanner Wiggins went 6.0 inning and Mason Ashlock's first career home run was the difference, as Rice knocked off South Florida, 5-4, in both team's American Conference opener.

Wiggins needed just 16 pitches to get through the first two innings. But the Bulls got to him in the third. With one out, Jevin Relaford singled and stole second. Ryan Pruitt doubled to right field, scoring Relaford for the games first run. Three batters later, Nathan Early brought in Pruitt with a single, giving USF a 2-0 lead after three.

Rice responded in the fourth. With one out and a man on, Paul Smith sent a fly ball to center field that Pruitt misplayed, as the ball went over his head and rolled to the wall, allowing Smith to record his first career triple, scoring JC Davis. Garet Boehm then singled through the left side to drive in Smith and tie the game at two. The Owls took the lead in the fifth, loading the bases with two outs. With Davis at the plate, catcher Lance Trippel allowed a passed ball which brought in Lorenzo Rios with the go-ahead run. The Owls added on in the sixth. With two outs, Kutter-Gage Webb singled. Mason Ashlock then hit the first pitch over the right field wall for his first career home run.

South Florida had a golden opportunity in the seventh inning. After loading the bases with no outs, a sacrifice fly scored one. But Ethan Atchley got Eli Thomas to hit into a double play, ending the inning. The Bulls inched closer in the eighth, scoring on a wild pitch. But Atchley locked down the ninth inning for his second save.

Wiggins earned his first career win. Edwin Alicea took the loss for USF.

Up Next
Rice and South Florida will play the middle game of the series tomorrow, Mar. 20. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., and the game will be streamed by ESPN+.

Notes
*Rice is 5-1 this season in the opening game of a weekend series.
*Rice won its conference opener for the first time since 2023.
*The Owls improved to 6-0 on the year in one-run games.
*The Owls opened conference play on the road for the second straight year and the third time in the last four seasons.
*With two hits, Paul Smith had his fourth multi-hit game of the year, and now has a season-long six-game hitting streak.
*Smith recorded his first career triple in the fourth inning.
*Mason Ashlock extended his hitting streak to eight games, the longest by an Owl this year.
*Cole Green extended his on-base streak to a season-high 13 games.