Handed a one-run lead with six innings to go, the Rice Baseball bullpen shut down Sam Houston to earn another midweek win.
Ty Baker needed just eight pitches to get through the top half of the first inning, setting the stage for Rice baseball to take an early 1-0 lead over Sam Houston, courtesy of an RBI single from Paul Smith in the bottom half of the inning. Baker would have to fight through the next two frames, though, stranding a runner at third in the second before the Bearkats broke through with a three-run third to go in front.
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The visitors’ advantage would last mere minutes. Kutter-Gage Webb retook the lead in the bottom of the inning on a three-run shot to right field. Then JC Davis lengthened the margin to 5-3 in the fourth, the last spurt of scoring from either side as the pitching staffs took over in earnest.
Ethan Atchley took over for Baker in the fourth inning before handing the baton to Jackson Blank, who held the line in the eighth and ninth. Neither allowed a run, scattering three hits across the final six innings to close out the win.
What it means | The best of Ethan Atchley
No Rice pitcher has been called upon more than Ethan Atchley, who appeared in his 17th game on Wednesday. He’s clearly earned the benefit of the doubt from the coaching staff, even if the results have been mixed. Before his outing against Sam Houston, Atchley’s 6.64 ERA was the fifth-highest on the team — no qualified pitcher with a higher ERA had appeared in more than seven games.
That confidence paid off handsomely against the Bearkats. Atchley hurled four scoreless innings, striking out seven with just one hit and one walk allowed. Performances like that are why Atchley’s gotten a longer leash than many others who have produced similar results, and it suggests the upside he’s capable of producing is worth the journey it takes to get there.
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One good game won’t paper over an up-and-down resume to this point, but hopefully it’s a sign of good things to come. If Rice can get this version of Atchley at a more frequent clip the pitching staff as a whole is much, much better.