Winners of a previous meeting at Schroeder Park, Rice baseball can clinch the Silver Glove Series with a win over Houston on Wednesday.
Rice owned the Silver Gloves Series for the majority of the Wayne Graham era, but the crosstown rivalry has grown more contentious in recent years. The Owls won the series from 2001 to 2013. Since then, the Cougars and Owls have traded years with Rice winning the odd years and Houston winning the even years.
If tradition holds, 2019 is the year of the Owls. Rice took the first step in that journey, defeating Houston 5-3 in March to take a 1-0 series lead. They have two games remaining in the series, starting with a home contest at Reckling Park next before finishing the series at Constellation Field in Sugar Land. Here’s how both teams stack up and how to watch.
When and Where
- Wed., May 1 at 6:30 p.m. CT
- Watch: CUSA TV
- Listen: Stretch Radio
Projected pitching matchup – Kel Bordwine vs Jared Pettitte
Rice hasn’t had a midweek game for a few weeks. Prior to the brief break, Kel Bordwine had settled into the midweek starting role for the Owls. Bordwine has been part of a short rotation and hasn’t thrown more than two innings since pitching four innings against Sam Houston on March 6. Bordwine is 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA in 11 appearances.
Ryan Randel had been the man to go in the Cougars’ midweek games until recently moving into the weekend rotation. Jared Pettitte started the last midweek game against Sam Houston and could in line for action this week, too. He owns a 7.04 ERA in five appearances (three starts).
Names to know from the plate
First baseman Joe Davis carries the water for the Cougars at the plate. He leads the team with 16 home runs, 50 RBI and a .431 on base percentage. Third baseman Jared Triolo is right there with him, batting .310 with a team-high 11 doubles.
Centerfield Tyler Bielamowicz and designated hitter Derrick Cherry round out the upper half of the lineup. The Cougars managed fives hits in the first game of the Silver Glove Series, two of which came from Bielamowicz.
ON DECK | at Western Kentucky (Fri-Sun)
