Rice University Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker - Rice Athletics
Thames Named American Pitcher of the Week
4/13/2026 2:15:00 PM | Baseball
Saves last two games of series sweep
Freshman righthanded pitcher Ty Thames has been named the American Conference Pitcher of the Week after posting saves in each of the final two games of Rice's weekend sweep on the road at Charlotte.
Owls' designated hitter Paul Smith received Honorable Mention recognition after hitting a pair of homers and driving in seven runs during the Owls' current four-game winning streak.
Thames took over for Ethan Sanders in the seventh inning on Saturday with the Owls leading 6-2 and needed just 23 pitches to complete the final three innings against the 49ers, allowing one hit and striking out three as Rice clinched the series. The following afternoon, he took over on the mound with Rice leading 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth with the winning run at the plate and none out. He erased the tying run with a double play and, after issuing a walk, ended the game with a fly out to second base, giving Rice its first series sweep in Charlotte since 2017.
The two-sport standout who lettered in football in the fall as a true freshman linebacker is the second Owl to earn the conference's weekly pitching honor. Davion Hickson earned the honor last season, ironically for his own stellar effort against Charlotte in which he threw the Owls' first complete game one-hitter since 2012.
Thames leads the Owls with four saves, which ranks fifth in the conference overall but leads all freshmen in the American.
Smith leads the Owls with eight home runs and 30 RBI, both career bests. He drove in runs in each game vs. Charlotte, including the first inning of each of the first two games, as the Owls improved to 13-1 this season when scoring in the first inning.
The sweep at Charlotte improved Rice's record in the American Conference to 7-5, the Owls' best start to a conference season since they were 9-3 after 12 games in 2016. They have won four straight games to improve to 23-14, their best record through 37 games since 2016 when they were 37-12.
Rice opens a five-game homestand on Wednesday by hosting Sam Houston at 6:35. The Owls' welcome Memphis to Reckling Park this weekend, with the series opening on Friday at 6:35, followed by a 2:05 start on Saturday and a 1:05 finale on Sunday. The homestand concludes on April 21 with the middle game of the 2026 Silver Glove Series with Houston at 6:35.
Single-tickets for all of Rice's remaining home baseball games are on sale at RiceOwls.com
Owls' designated hitter Paul Smith received Honorable Mention recognition after hitting a pair of homers and driving in seven runs during the Owls' current four-game winning streak.
Thames took over for Ethan Sanders in the seventh inning on Saturday with the Owls leading 6-2 and needed just 23 pitches to complete the final three innings against the 49ers, allowing one hit and striking out three as Rice clinched the series. The following afternoon, he took over on the mound with Rice leading 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth with the winning run at the plate and none out. He erased the tying run with a double play and, after issuing a walk, ended the game with a fly out to second base, giving Rice its first series sweep in Charlotte since 2017.
The two-sport standout who lettered in football in the fall as a true freshman linebacker is the second Owl to earn the conference's weekly pitching honor. Davion Hickson earned the honor last season, ironically for his own stellar effort against Charlotte in which he threw the Owls' first complete game one-hitter since 2012.
Thames leads the Owls with four saves, which ranks fifth in the conference overall but leads all freshmen in the American.
Smith leads the Owls with eight home runs and 30 RBI, both career bests. He drove in runs in each game vs. Charlotte, including the first inning of each of the first two games, as the Owls improved to 13-1 this season when scoring in the first inning.
The sweep at Charlotte improved Rice's record in the American Conference to 7-5, the Owls' best start to a conference season since they were 9-3 after 12 games in 2016. They have won four straight games to improve to 23-14, their best record through 37 games since 2016 when they were 37-12.
Rice opens a five-game homestand on Wednesday by hosting Sam Houston at 6:35. The Owls' welcome Memphis to Reckling Park this weekend, with the series opening on Friday at 6:35, followed by a 2:05 start on Saturday and a 1:05 finale on Sunday. The homestand concludes on April 21 with the middle game of the 2026 Silver Glove Series with Houston at 6:35.
Single-tickets for all of Rice's remaining home baseball games are on sale at RiceOwls.com
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