Baseball takes weekend series

4/22/15 11:00am

The Rice University Owls baseball team completed a four-game homestand against two in-state rivals, the University of Houston and the University of Texas, San Antonio. Beginning on Tuesday afternoon, Rice defeated No. 25 Houston 11-0 to even up the Silver Glove Series at one apiece and snap a fourgame losing streak against the Cougars. After heavy thunderstorms postponed Friday’s opening matchup against UTSA, the Owls won both games of the Saturday doubleheader but fell in Sunday’s contest. Rice finished 3-1 on the week and is now 26-16 on the year (14-7 in C-USA).

In the first game against UTSA, Rice junior starting pitcher Kevin McCanna got off to a clean start after allowing three singles through his first 4.0 innings of work. Meanwhile, third-inning RBI singles by senior left fielder John Williamson and junior catcher Hunter Kopycinski gave Rice the early 3-0 advantage. In the following inning, a costly error by UTSA allowed Rice to score two more runs and Rice went up 5-0. However, UTSA battled back in the top of the fifth inning by scoring four runs, which forced McCanna to leave the game after 4.2 innings of work. With Rice leading 9-6 headed into the ninth inning, the Roadrunners plated two runs to cut the deficit to 9-8. Rice then stranded the tying runner at second base to hold on for the 9-8 final and grant junior Matt Ditman the win.

The final game of the doubleheader began 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game and UTSA jumped out to a 1-0 advantage against Rice junior starting pitcher Jordan Stephens. The offense responded in the third inning on RBIs by senior infielder Ford Stainback and sophomore right fielder Charlie Warren to take the 2-1 lead. A home run in the next half-inning by UTSA tied the game up at two runs apiece and the back-and-forth action continued until the sixth when Rice sent nine men to the plate and scored five runs to take an 8-2 advantage. A bases-loaded single by senior catcher John Clay Reeves plated two runs while RBIs by senior left fielder Kirby Taylor and junior first baseman Connor Teykl accounted for the other runs. Rice held on 8-2 and the pitching trio of Stephens, freshman Glenn Otto and junior Austin Solecitto combined to strike out 15 batters.

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In the Sunday finale, the Owls poised to strike early after back-to-back first-inning singles from Stainback and Warren. However, UTSA freshman starter Chance Kirby worked out of the jam to keep Rice off the board. He then went on to throw a complete game and stifled the offense, allowing just one run during nine innings. Meanwhile, junior starter Blake Fox kept the Owls in the ballgame for most of the afternoon. Despite the loss, Fox allowed four runs on five hits through 6.0 innings while striking out six batters. The Owls could have ended UTSA threats on two occasions, but defensive miscues ended up leading to five of the seven runs scored by UTSA. Rice lost by a final score of 7-1.

According to Rice Pitching Coach Patrick Hallmark, the coaching staff was happy with the team’s performance despite the loss.

“We know that 3-1 is always a good week especially with having Houston on our schedule and a doubleheader which are always tough,” Hallmark said. “[Sunday’s] pitcher shut us down a little bit but for three out of the four games we really hit the ball well and the pitchers pitched really well so we are pleased.”

The Owls have only three games scheduled over the next 15 calendar days as the end of classes and finals approach. Hallmark said the extra time should allow the team to complete their academic obligations and then focus solely on baseball.

“I think [the layoff] will help more than anything to get the academic load off,” Hallmark said. “Work is always heavy during this time of year with lots of tests, final exams and projects going on. It [will] be nice to get the last round of projects and papers done so the guys can relax and get to focus more on baseball.”

Otto saw a combined 6.0 innings of work this week against Houston and in the second game of the UTSA series. He struck out 12 batters and allowed just one hit in those outings.

According to Otto, his pitches simply seemed to work. “I was trying to stay down in the zone and really throw strikes to get ahead of hitters and by doing that. … The outcome was good,” Otto said. “I hope I can continue to keep it going throughout the rest of the season and contribute to the team anyway I can.”

Otto, along with many of his teammates, said he realizes the three games at Western Kentucky University this weekend are crucial going into the off-week for final exams.

“We all know how important these next three games are and not only them but the rest of the games in terms of getting back on top in conference and doing what we and everyone else wants us to do,” Otto said. “We are to the point of the season where every game is crucial and we just need to focus on playing good baseball these next three games and here on out.”

The Owls will travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky this upcoming weekend to face the Western Kentucky University in a three-game conference series. Following the series, Rice will not take the field again until May 6 once the final exam period is over. First pitch for Friday’s matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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