Rice baseball needs a big weekend against Charlotte to clinch a spot in the Conference USA Baseball Tournament. Here’s how the Owls stack up with the 49ers.
Fresh off their first C-USA series win of the season, Rice baseball hopes to continue their winning ways this coming weekend against the Charlotte 49ers. Rice punch their ticket to the Conference USA Baseball Tournament with a strong showing this weekend and a little help from a few others teams in the league.
Times: Friday 1:00 p.m. | Saturday 1:00 p.m. / ~4:00 p.m. | Sunday 12:00 p.m.
Venue: Reckling Park
Radio: Stretch Internet Portal
Watch: CUSAtv
How each team fared this week
Rice baseball (21-27-1) took three of four from UAB last weekend with their only loss coming by a walk off. The Owls could have used the extra win, but a three-win weekend in itself was big for this team with the regular season end coming soon.
UAB (35-14) took care of business in their final home series of the year, sweeping Marshall in commanding fashion. The 49ers outscored the Herd 35-19 in three games, rebounding swiftly from a series loss to Old Dominion the weekend prior.
Probable Pitchers
Friday | Mitchell 6olcomb (5-4, 6.08 ERA)
Saturday 1 | Roel Garcia (1-5, 5.26)
Saturday 2 | Blake Brogdon (3-5, 5.29)
Sunday | Brandon Deskins (2-4, 3.70)
Charlotte Pitching
While the 49ers might lack the top end of the rotation talent that’s carried other teams this deep into the season, they do have one of the more well-rounded pitching staffs in Conference USA. Bryce McGowan leads the team in strikeouts (92). Andrew Lindsey has a sterling 6-1 record, who marvelously did not receive a decision last weekend against Marshall even though he surrendered seven runs.
Charlotte Hitting
The Charlotte offense came to Lindsey’s back in that game, and has risen to the occasion throughout the season. The 49ers have the No. 4 offense in Conference USA led by Austin Knight, the conference leader in batting average, hits and doubles. Right behind him, the No. 2 hitter in C-USA, is Gino Groover, with a .352 average. Those two are the key cogs in the machine that have made Charlotte so successful.
