March 1, 2009

Box Score

HOUSTON -- The Rice baseball team posted double-digit hits and got a solid start on the mound from freshman starter Taylor Wall for an 8-3 win over longtime rival Baylor on Sunday's final day of action at the Houston College Classic downtown at Minute Maid Park. The Owls wrapped-up the three-game weekend as the only unbeaten team (3-0) in the tournament.

Wall put the Owls in position to win with 6.1 innings of work. The freshman left-hander from Westside High School scattered three hits and two walks while registering a career-high eight strikeouts. He allowed just one run against a Baylor team that is ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation. Wall has in fact allowed only one run in his last 9.1 innings dating back to a relief outing against crosstown rival Houston last Wednesday (Feb. 25)

Rice gave the rookie left-hander some early support. The Owls opportunistically pushed across three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Anthony Rendon drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a balk. Jess Buenger punched a ball through the right side to single him home for a 1-0 lead. Steven Sultzbaugh followed with a similar single through the right side that sent Buenger to third. Baylor looked to be working out of the jam with a two-out infield ground ball, but a Bear fielding error on the play allowed Buenger to score and Sultzbaugh to move into scoring position. Brock Holt singled Sultzbaugh home for the 3-0 advantage.

Baylor bounced right back with a run in the top of the third. Landis Ware drew a leadoff walk and Brooks Pinckard bunted for a base hit. Ware was retired at third on a fielder's choice, but Pinckard moved to second on the play. He scored on an RBI single by Joey Hainsfurther and the Bears had cut the lead margin to 3-1.

The Owls used the longball for another three runs in the fifth. Jimmy Comerota led off with a base hit up the middle and Chad Mozingo coaxed a one-out walk. With two away Rendon blasted a three-run homer to left-center field. The rookie's second round-tripper of the season gave the Owls a 6-1 lead. Rice extended the margin with two more runs in the seventh. Holt stroked a single to right and Mozingo bunted for a base hit. Holt scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Rendon and Mozingo came home on a single to left-center by Rick Hague to make it 8-1.

The Bears countered with two runs in the eighth on four hits. Baylor was looking for more when Rice senior reliever Jordan Rogers entered the game and pitched out of a two-on, two-out situation. The Owls improved to 5-2 with their third-straight win. Baylor fell to 6-2 overall.

It was a busy weekend downtown at Minute Maid Park, but it will be an even busier week ahead for Rice baseball. The Owls begin a five-game week on the road in Huntsville with a non-conference clash against Sam Houston State on Tuesday (Mar. 3). The road-swing continues Wednesday with a game against Dallas Baptist that will be played at the Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Tex. The Blue & Gray returns home to host its annual home tournament, The Academy Sports + Outdoors Invitational, beginning on Friday (Mar. 6). Rice hosts a talented tournament field of Oral Roberts, Notre Dame and Washington State in round-robin action th