Rice University Athletics
Photo by: Maria Lysaker | Rice Athletics
Smith's Walk Walks Off UTSA
4/2/2026 10:53:00 PM | Baseball
Owls take series opener 3-2
Paul Smith's bases-loaded, two-out walk in the bottom of the 10th gave Rice a 3-2 win over UTSA in the series opener between the schools at Reckling Park on Thursday night.
How it Happened: Rice staked starter Tanner Wiggins to an early lead, scoring in the first inning for the third consecutive game. Colin Robson, who reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a groundout, moved to third and then home on wild pitches to score his team-leading 26th run. UTSA knotted the score with a solo homer in the top of the second, but Rice retook the lead in the bottom of the second on a groundout by Landis Davila that brought home Kutter-Gage Webb. The Roadrunners tied the game on an unearned run in the fourth, but the Owls' starter held the Roadrunners' offense, which came into the game ranked 14th in the nation in runs and averaging 8.3 per game, off the bases over the next three innings before turning the ball over to Brayden Sharp in the eighth. Sharp allowed a walk and a single while fanning four over the last three innings to improve his record to 3-1. Rice loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th to set the stage for Smith. Davila laid down a bunt single and went to third on Cole Green's third hit of the night. After Green advanced due to defensive indifference, UTSA chose to intentionally walk Robson. JC Davis' ground ball forced Davila at the plate, and Smith worked the count to 3-1 and then watched a 3-2 pitch dip out of the zone to bring home Green to deliver the winning run in the late innings for the second consecutive game.
Next Up: Rice and UTSA are set for the middle game of the series at 6:35 on Friday.
Notes
How it Happened: Rice staked starter Tanner Wiggins to an early lead, scoring in the first inning for the third consecutive game. Colin Robson, who reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a groundout, moved to third and then home on wild pitches to score his team-leading 26th run. UTSA knotted the score with a solo homer in the top of the second, but Rice retook the lead in the bottom of the second on a groundout by Landis Davila that brought home Kutter-Gage Webb. The Roadrunners tied the game on an unearned run in the fourth, but the Owls' starter held the Roadrunners' offense, which came into the game ranked 14th in the nation in runs and averaging 8.3 per game, off the bases over the next three innings before turning the ball over to Brayden Sharp in the eighth. Sharp allowed a walk and a single while fanning four over the last three innings to improve his record to 3-1. Rice loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th to set the stage for Smith. Davila laid down a bunt single and went to third on Cole Green's third hit of the night. After Green advanced due to defensive indifference, UTSA chose to intentionally walk Robson. JC Davis' ground ball forced Davila at the plate, and Smith worked the count to 3-1 and then watched a 3-2 pitch dip out of the zone to bring home Green to deliver the winning run in the late innings for the second consecutive game.
Next Up: Rice and UTSA are set for the middle game of the series at 6:35 on Friday.
Notes
- The Owls improved to 19-12 on the season, 11-4 at home, and 4-3 in the American Conference.
- The win snapped a five-game winning streak by UTSA in the series and improved the Owls' record against the Roadrunners to 31-25 overall and 17-12 at Reckling Park.
- Rice has matched its home win total from 2025 and moved to seven games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2016 season.
- Rice is 19-12 at home under David Pierce after going a combined 70-108 at home since 2019.
- The Owls reached 19 wins in the fewest number of games (31) since they were 19-10 in 2016.
- Rice moved to 10-1 when scoring in the first inning this season and has outscored the opposition 30-16 in the first inning this year.
- Wiggins worked a career-best seven innings and matched Ethan Sanders for the longest outing by an Owl this year.
- Sharp has allowed just one run in his last four appearances out of the bullpen, covering 14 innings, and has struck out 20 over that stretch.
- Smith's RBI increased his team-leading total to 23.
- Green collected three hits in a game for the fifth time this season (team best) and extended his hitting streak to six games, matching his career high.
- Robson extended his hitting streak to five games, matching his career high.
Players Mentioned
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