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Rice Baseball clinches AAC Tournament spot despite sweep by UTSA

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Rice Baseball was swept by UTSA in its final regular season series, but still managed to punch its ticket to the AAC Tournament.

THURSDAY | UTSA 15, Rice 7

Rice baseball couldn’t have asked for a better start in the series opener. Even without Davion Hickson on the mound, the Owls ambushed UTSA starter Zach Royse, battering him for seven runs in the first four innings on three home runs, one apiece from Landon West, Paul Smith and Cole Green.

More: Jack Ben-Shoshan’s circuitous path to the top of the Rice Baseball bullpen

Despite being spotted a 7-0 lead, the Rice pitching staff couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain. UTSA tied the game with a seven-run fifth despite registering just two hits in the inning. Five free passes buoyed their cause. With the score tied, UTSA went on the offensive. The Roadrunners scored eight in the next two frames, crushing the Owls’ bullpen, which nearly allowed the team to be run-ruled despite the strong start.

FRIDAY | UTSA 11, Rice 4

The Roadrunners’ offensive outburst continued into the second game of the series with a five-run first against Owls’ pitcher JD McCracken, who did himself no favors with three walks and a hit batter in the inning. Rice punched back with three runs in the second, including a homer from Landon West, but the two-run deficit was as close as they would be for the remainder of the contest.

Last Weekend: Owls flash late-inning magic in series win over WSU

UTSA added two more in the third, two in the fifth and single insurance runs in the sixth and eighth, tallying 11 total runs in the eight innings they came to the plate. Rice would manage just one other score in their final seven innings, an RBI single from Michael Zito in the fifth.

SATURDAY | USTA 7, Rice 0

A bullpen game for the Owls ended most predictably. Caleb Williams made his first start of the season, giving up two runs in 1.2 innings of work. He ceded the mound to Ethan Atchley and then the carousel of relivers was off to the races. UTSA scored a single run in each of the first four innings, then put up two in the sixth and one more in the seventh. Seven runs proved more than enough against a dormant Rice offense.

The Owls wouldn’t get their first hit until the fifth inning, a double from Landon West, and while he moved to third on the ensuing groundout, did not score. Rice would accrue just four hits on the day, getting shut out in their final game of the regular season.

THREE FOR THE ROAD

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Rice Football Recruiting: DL Matthew Aribisala commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class continues beefing up its haul in the defensive trenches. Defensive lineman Matthew Aribisala has committed to the Owls.

The finishing touches to the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class are being made as the calendar bleeds into mid-May and players will soon be on campus for summer workouts. Before that happens, the Owls are adding a few more reinforcements via the transfer portal, including this latest new face from just north of town. Former Sam Houston defensive lineman Matthew Aribisala has committed to the Owls.

Aribisala arrives on South Main with two years of eligibility remaining following four years spent at Sam Houston State. He saw action in 21 games, making his largest impact in 2023 when he recorded 11 tackles across 12 games.

He picked up his first sack last season against Rice and was on his way to an even larger role in the defense before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year, limiting him to just four games last fall.

Upon entering the portal, Aribisala received interest from several Group of 5 programs with offers from Ohio, New Mexico State and Arkansas State, among others.

The addition of Aribisala gives the Owls a robust group of defensive additions from the Transfer Portal this spring. He joins fellow defensive line additions VJ Bronson (North Texas) and Sam Carrell (Texas Tech) as well as safety Jack Kane (Oregon State) and corner Khary Crump (Houston Christian).

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The 6-foot-3, 295 pound interior defender has the potential to make a sizable impact on the Owls’ front. There’s not a ton of highlights out there, but this sack of Rice QB EJ Warner in the season opener last year showcased the kind of speed and power he brings to the table as a pass rusher.

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Rice Baseball 2025: MLB Owls Update – May 14

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The 2025 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are making the most of their time in The Show. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers’s electric start to the season was slowed, at least briefly, by an oblique injury that landed him on the 10-day injured list on Monday. In his final appearance before his forced time off, Myers went 1-for-3 against the White Sox with a run scored and a stolen base, his seventh of the season thus far, and potentially the play which caused the injury.

Through May 14, Myers is hitting .337 with six extra-base hits, five walks and 21 strikeouts. His OPS is .857 and he’s collected 14 RBI.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon is slated to miss a significant amount of time following him surgery this spring. The bad news is another bump in an injury-plagued stint with the Angels; Rendon missed a chunk of last season with an oblique strain.

Matt Canterino – Twins AAA

Canterino was thought to have a real chance to crack the big league roster at some point this season, converting himself to a reliver this offseason in hopes of limiting the stress on his arm and preserving his health. Unfortunately, he’s set to miss a third consecutive season, undergoing shoulder surgery in early March. The Twins since released him and signed him to a minor league contract while he rehabs.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls began the season in AAA:

  • Tristan Gray – Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Glenn Otto – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros)
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Rice Football Recruiting: RB Carson Morgan commits to Owls

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The 2025 Rice Football recruiting class has picked up another boost in their skill position ranks. Former Kansas running back Carson Morgan has committed to the Owls.

Bolstering the running back room was one of the most evident objectives when it came to rounding out the 2025 Rice Football recruiting class and prepping the roster before summer workouts arrived. Rice was able to find that piece in the transfer portal. Former Kansas running back Carson Morgan has committed to the Owls.

A product of Bentonville West High School in Arkansas who grew up in Austin, TX, Morgan committed to Kansas as a member of the 2023 class. He appeared in six games for the Jayhawks last season, primarily on special teams, without recording any official statistics, before entering the portal this spring. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

Morgan picked up a handful of FCS offers before both Rice and Ohio made their offers on the same day. Less than two weeks later, Morgan opted to head south to Houston, TX, rather than north to Athens, OH. His prior relationship with Rice football head coach Scott Abell played role in the decision.

“Coach Abell and that entire staff recruited me pretty heavily out of high school when they were at Davidson,” Morgan told The Roost. “When they reached out after I entered the portal they were very enthusiastic about me and wanted me to come visit as soon as possible.”

Morgan rounds out a skill position group that has added a fair amount of veterans in the portal over the last several weeks. Before his announcement, Rice had added Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver Artis Cole, Coastal Carolina slot receiver Max Balthazar and Kennesaw State quarterback Lucas Scheerhorn.

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The film for Morgan is a compilation of practice highlights and some special teams work. Limited though it is, Morgan’s 6-foot, 210-pound frame is the fills a gap the position was lacking and he showcases a relatively quick transition in traffic that could pay off in big ways in the Rice offense.

“I’m gonna give this program everything I got and show this community that y’all got a special one,” Morgan said. “Can’t wait to get back down in the great state of Texas!”

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Rice Baseball 2025: International Owls Update – May 10

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In addition to the Rice baseball alums in the Major Leagues, Owls are playing professional baseball around the world. Here’s the latest from Mexico and Japan.

Jon Duplantier – Hanshin Tigers (Japan)

Duplantier signed a minor league contract with the Brewers this winter, but was granted his release soon after so that he could pursue an opportunity in Japan. The bet to go oversees has worked out extremely well for Duplantier thus far. In four appearances with the Hanshin Tigers, Duplantier is 1-1 with a sterling 1.23 ERA. He’s struck out 28 batters and allowed just 15 hits in 22 innings of work.

In (Nippon Professional Baseball) NPB, pitchers are required to hit, something Duplantier rarely did in the states. He has two official big league plate appearances without a hit. In Japan, however, Duplantier is 1-for-6, collecting his very first pro-baseball knock.

Through May 12, Duplantier has a 1.23  ERA with a 0.863 WHIP. He’s averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Tyler Duffey– Generales de Durango (Mexico)

A free agent, Duffey opted to play in Mexico following 10 seasons in the major leagues, most recently splitting his 2024 season in between AAA and the Kansas City Royals. He signed with Generales de Durango this offseason.

Duffey has made 11 appearances with the club so far, all in relief. He’s struck out 12 while handing out just seven free passes and while he has yet to allow a home run, several of the men he’s allowed to reach base have come around to score.

Through May 12, Duffey has a 5.06 ERA with a 1.594 WHIP. He’s averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

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