As Rice Baseball experiences more success than its had in at least a decade, head coach David Pierce has kept his team locked in despite the noise.
It’s been hard not to notice. The pervasive buzz surrounding the Rice baseball program has continued to grow louder and louder with each successive win. After an unprecedented midseason takeover last year, head coach David Pierce has started to fully put his mark on a Rice baseball program that was in desperate need of a firm hand. So far, the results have been incredible.
Rice crossed the midpoint of conference play last weekend, sweeping Charlotte in a three-game series. That stretch brought with it a smattering of accolades, both old and new.
Hurler Ty Thames was tabbed conference pitcher of the week, allowing one hit in four innings on his way to earning two saves. But it was the older honors that reached far beyond any individual, albeit well-deserved credit for a player who had strung together a good weekend.
The sweep was the Owls’ first sweep at Charlotte since 2017. It was their first sweep of a conference opponent at any locale since 2024 and only the second road sweep by any team in the league this year.
More: 2026 Rice Baseball Mid-Season State of the Program
The trio of wins pushed Rice baseball nine games above .500, the first time they’ve been that far above the median since 2016. The Owls head back to Reckling Park this week for a set of four home games, one against Sam Houston before a weekend against Memphis.
Rice is 12-6 at home this season. Should they find three more wins across their final eight games, they’ll clinch their first winning season at their own ballpark since 2018. One more win will ensure the Owls have their most wins in a season since 2019.
The list goes on and on.
After what has felt like much longer than a few years in the wilderness, Rice baseball has reached mid-April in the top three in the conference standings and they’re the only team in the American Conference that’s at least three games above .500 at home and on the road. They just win.
And with each win, the streaks are extended and the “first time since so and so” gets plastered across social media.
If Pierce and the Owls have taken notice, it hasn’t been easy to see. When asked about all of the “firsts” his team is accruing week after week, Pierce shook his head and cast them aside.
“There’s a lot of season left. We don’t have time to look at any of that, to be honest with you. We have to get guys ready to play and not let them look at stuff like that. Or they’re going to look at it, but they’re still going to have to understand why they’re having success. It’s their work. Their preparation and their trust,” Pierce said.
Whether the forced obliviousness is an act or a deliberate display of unwavering focus is of little relevance to the fans of the Blue and Gray. Pierce has brought winning baseball back to Rice. He’ll be able to step back and appreciate it soon enough. But first, he’s got some more ballgames to win.
** Photo credit: Maria Lysaker **