Rice University Athletics
Tuesday, March 31
Houston, Texas
6:35 pm
Rice University
vs
UTRGV
Owls Host Vaqueros on Tuesday
3/30/2026 9:00:00 PM | Baseball
Owls look to sweep series
SHORT WEEK FEATURES FOUR GAMES IN FIVE DAYS: Fresh off winning its third consecutive home series in 2026, Rice will host UTRGV and UTSA at Reckling Park in a stretch of four games in five days due to the Easter holiday. The Vaqueros return to Reckling on Tuesday for the back half of their two-game set with the Owls, with Rice winning the first meeting 7-3 on March 7. After practice day on Wednesday, Rice and UTSA resume their I-10 rivalry with a three-game series that opens on Thursday at 6:35, followed by another 6:35 meeting on Friday and the finale of the series at 1:05 on Sunday.
ON THE AIR: J.P. Heath will call the action on RiceOwls.com and the Varsity Network app. His call will also be available on ESPN+.
HOT LINKS
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: RiceOwls.com
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
PITCHING MATCHUP:
Ty Baker (0-0, 5.79) vs. Wyatt Wiatrek (0-1, 9.00)
HOME FRONT: Rice is 9-4 this season at Reckling Park and has won each of its three weekend series this year and six consecutive dating back to 2025. The Owls have not posted a winning season at home since they were 15-13-1 in 2018. In the 178 home games between 2019 and David Pierce's first home game as the Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach, Rice posted a .393 home winning percentage (70-108). The Owls are 17-12 (.586) at home under Pierce and have won their last six home series (USF, Charlotte & Wichita State in 2025, Northwestern, Harvard & Florida Atlantic in 2026).
MORE AT HOME: The Owls are 9-4 at home this season and 8-8 away from Reckling Park. The 9-4 start is their best at home since they were 8-2 to open the 2021 season. By comparison, Rice did not win its ninth home game until its 25th game at Reckling last season. The Owls have won three consecutive home series to open a season for the first time since 2014 and have won six straight series at Reckling dating back to last season. They have not four consecutive series at home to open a season since 2012.
EARLY SUCCESS: Rice's 8-1 win to clinch the series over Florida Atlantic improved the Owls' season record to 17-12and put them five games over .500 for the first time in since the 2016 season when they finished 38-24. The Owls have reached 17 wins in less than 30 games for the first time since 2016 when they started 17-10. They are looking for their 18th in the fewest games since 2016 (18-10).
ON THE AIR: J.P. Heath will call the action on RiceOwls.com and the Varsity Network app. His call will also be available on ESPN+.
HOT LINKS
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: RiceOwls.com
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
PITCHING MATCHUP:
Ty Baker (0-0, 5.79) vs. Wyatt Wiatrek (0-1, 9.00)
HOME FRONT: Rice is 9-4 this season at Reckling Park and has won each of its three weekend series this year and six consecutive dating back to 2025. The Owls have not posted a winning season at home since they were 15-13-1 in 2018. In the 178 home games between 2019 and David Pierce's first home game as the Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach, Rice posted a .393 home winning percentage (70-108). The Owls are 17-12 (.586) at home under Pierce and have won their last six home series (USF, Charlotte & Wichita State in 2025, Northwestern, Harvard & Florida Atlantic in 2026).
MORE AT HOME: The Owls are 9-4 at home this season and 8-8 away from Reckling Park. The 9-4 start is their best at home since they were 8-2 to open the 2021 season. By comparison, Rice did not win its ninth home game until its 25th game at Reckling last season. The Owls have won three consecutive home series to open a season for the first time since 2014 and have won six straight series at Reckling dating back to last season. They have not four consecutive series at home to open a season since 2012.
EARLY SUCCESS: Rice's 8-1 win to clinch the series over Florida Atlantic improved the Owls' season record to 17-12and put them five games over .500 for the first time in since the 2016 season when they finished 38-24. The Owls have reached 17 wins in less than 30 games for the first time since 2016 when they started 17-10. They are looking for their 18th in the fewest games since 2016 (18-10).
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