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Young arms, timely bats lift Rice baseball past Lamar

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Rice baseball road a pair of young arms and an explosive seventh inning rally from the bats to a midweek win against Lamar on Tuesday.

Making his first career start, Garrett Stratton tossed a scoreless first inning before falling behind in the second on a sacrifice fly. The deficit wouldn’t last for long, though, with Paul Smith tying the game in the bottom half of the inning and Connor Walsh putting Rice in front in the third.

Leading 2-1, head coach Jose Cruz Jr. turned to Ryland Urbanczyk who delivered a masterful four-inning, two-hit performance to keep Lamar off the scoreboard. His replacement, Cristian Cienfuegos, was not as fortunate, allowing the visitors to tie the game in the top of the event before Krishna Raj came in to stem the bleeding.

Last Time Out: Rice Baseball drops water-logged series to Louisiana Tech

Locked at three runs apiece, Rice loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Guy Garibay walked to put Rice in front. Two batters later, Walsh singled in two more. It was Jack Riedel who delivered the extra cherry on top, taking home on a double steal to put Rice in front 7-3, the game’s final score.

What it means | The future on the mound?

Garrett Stratton and Ryalnd Urbanczyk were two of the most heralded freshman additions to the pitching staff this offseason. Injuries cost Stratton time early in the season and Urbanczyk was limited to just five appearances coming into Tuesday night. That tandem produced one of the better piggyback midweek performances the Owls have had in a game this season.

The pitching staff has been an adventure at times behind Parker Smith. Stratton and Urbanczyk might not be able to become firemen out of the pen quite yet this season, but the future is bright. Tuesday was just a glimpse.

ON DECK | vs LA Tech (Thr-Sat)

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Rice Baseball drops water-logged series to Louisiana Tech

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Rice Baseball lost a compressed weekend series to Louisiana Tech, salvaging a split of a seven-inning doubleheader to avoid a sweep at home.

FRIDAY | LA Tech 6 – Rice 4

Rice starter Parker Smith looked lost in the early portions of the series opener on Friday night. His command was loose and he was hit early and often, facing seven hitters and allowing two runs in the first inning before allowing the first two batters in the second to reach base. Head coach Jose Cruz Jr. stuck with his ace. “All of a sudden, the next thing you know, he throws six innings, right?” Cruz chuckled.

Smith was lifted after 5.2 innings when an error extended an inning he should have escaped from, and eventually did thanks to a quick out from reliever Cristian Cienfuegos. The bats for those two runs back in the second, tying the game on an RBI triple from Ben Royo and a subsequent single by Manny Garza. The score would level again at 4-4 with reliever Matthew Linskey surrendering two solo home runs later before Louisiana Tech tagged Krishna Raj with two runs in the ninth to win it.

SATURDAY AM | LA Tech 5 – Rice 4 (7 inn.)

Brody Drost for Louisiana Tech and Guy Garibay for Rice exchanged solo home runs in the second in a quick but otherwise quiet offensive game through the early innings. At least, that was the case until Rice starter JD McCracken found himself in a jam in the fifth inning. After loading the bases on a single, walk and hit batsman, he gave up the lead on a single to right field and was lifted for Justin Long.

Long was unable to limit the damage, though, and it might have been the difference in the game. Louisiana Tech cleared the bases with a double then tacked on a sac fly. Leading 5-1, Rice got three runs in the seventh but stranded the tying run on first base.

SATURDAY PM | Rice 4 – LA Tech 0 (7 inn.)

Jacob Devenney, rewarded for his pinch-hit RBI single in the early game, drew the start in the finale and came around to score the go-ahead run in the first inning on a double from Aaron Smigelski. Neither team would score in the second, third or fourth innings as Rice starter Tom Vincent delivered one his best outings of the season (3 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs) and the bullpen — specifically Cristian Cienfuegos, Tyler Hamilton, Krishna Raj and Jack Ben-Shoshan — kept Louisiana Tech off the board completely.

Rice picked up insurance in the sixth inning, scoring three runs on a couple of infield singles and walks. Leading 4-0, Ben-Shoshan was able to hang on a close the door, albeit with some drama in the final moments.

THREE FOR THE ROAD

Despite outscoring its opponent this time around, Rice baseball dropped its third consecutive Conference USA series, all by 2-1 margins. Louisiana Tech had the upper hand this weekend. Here are a few takeaways from the series.

1. Unclutch

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ON DECK | vs Lamar (Tues), vs McNeese State (Wed), vs Charlotte (Fri-Sun)

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Rice Baseball: 2023 MiLB Owls early season update

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While several Rice Baseball alums are producing at the highest level, others are working their way up the ladder. Here’s the latest on the MiLB Owls.

Triple-A

Jon Duplantier (Phillies) spent the 2022 season in the Dodgers organization at the AAA level before electing free agency this winter. He signed a minor league deal with the Phillies in January and was a non-roster invite to big league spring training. He will open the season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Tristan Gray (Rays) was a non-roster invite to Rays’ spring training. He will begin the season with the Durham Bulls.

Ford Proctor (Giants) was traded last season from the Rays to Giants, making his big league debut in September. He was a non-roster invite to Giants spring training before beginning the season with the Sacramento River Cats.

Dane Myers (Marlins) spent last season with the Erie Seawolves, the AA affiliate of the Detriot Tigers before being claimed off waivers this winter by the Marlins. He will begin the season with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the Marlins’ AAA team.

Double-A

Matt Canterino (Twins) spent a large chunk of last season on the injured list. After completing a rehab assignment this summer with the FCL Twins, Canterino will return to the Wichita Wind Surge this spring.

Trei Cruz (Tigers) a third-round draft selection by the Tigers in 2020, Cruz will begin the 2023 season with the Erie SeaWolves, Detriot’s AA affiliate.

More on Rice Baseball: Latest from the MLB Owls

Evan Kravetz (Reds) most recently appeared in a World Baseball Classic game with team Israel this offseason. He’s now returned to minor league ball and will start the season with the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Reds’ AA affiliate.

Ricky Salinas (Reds) elected retirement this past offseason, concluding a five-year minor league career that began in rookie ball in 2018 before climbing to the AA level and remaining there in 2021 and 2022.

Single-A

Roel Garcia (Rays, High-A) was drafted by the Rays in the 14th Round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He made a brief stint in summer ball following his signing last year and will start the 2023 season with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the Ray’s High-A affiliate.

Cooper Chandler (Orioles) signed with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 MLB Draft and appeared in a brief summer ball stint. He’ll start the 2023 season with the Delmarva Shorebirds, the single-A team of the Orioles.

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Rice Baseball 2023: MLB Owls update – Apr 4

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The 2023 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon will have to wait a bit longer to get into the groove of the 2023 season. The Angels’ infielder was suspended five games (later reduced to four games on appeal) and fined an undisclosed amount following an altercation with a fan on opening. He was hitless in his first two appearances.

Through April 4, Rendon is hitting .000 with no extra-base hits, one walk and two strikeouts. His OPS is .125 and he’s collected one RBI.

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

Chargois is three appearances into the 2023 season, his first with the Miami Marlins, and things couldn’t be going much better for the veteran reliever. He’s pitched a combined 3.0 innings with three strikeouts, no hits allowed and no runs, earning one hold in the process. He’s inherited four runners. None have scored.

Through April 4, Chargois has a 0.00 ERA with a 0.000 WHIP. He’s averaging 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Lucas Luetge – Atlanta Braves

Luetge made his debut with the Braves on Opening Day, his only appearance with the club to date, and was part of a 7-2 victory over the Washington Nationals. Luetge worked one inning, allowing two hits and one run, entering in the fourth inning before being lifted in the fifth.

Through April 4, Luetge has a 9.00 ERA with a 2.000 WHIP. He’s averaging 0.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Glenn Otto – Texas Rangers

Otto did not appear on the Rangers Opening Day roster despite making 27 starts for the club last season. Instead, he began the year on the injured list, landing on the 60-day IL on March 30 with a right shoulder strain. He will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Ford Proctor – San Francisco Giants

Proctor was a September call-up of the Giants last season and was a non-roster invite to Spring Training this offseason. He’s begun the year with San Francisco’s Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.

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Rice Baseball drops marathon hit-fest to Houston

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Pitching fans, look away. Rice Baseball and crosstown rival Houston combined for 32 hits and 27 runs in an offense-heavy midweek matchup that went to the Cougars.

There were zero runs scored by either team in the first inning at Schroeder Park on Tuesday night. That would prove to be the only frame of split zeros between Rice baseball and Houston in a raucous midweek affair that featured plenty of runs and not as much quality pitching.

Rice starter Garret Zaskoda went 1.2 innings, surrendering two runs on three hits before being lifted. His counterpart, Houston starter Graysen Drezek made it 2.1 innings but was tagged for four runs on four hits. Those would prove to be among the longer relief stints for either side in a game that featured 14 pitchers.

Last Time Out: Rice Baseball pitching woes fester in series loss to FAU

Despite the back-and-forth, Rice looked to have positioned themselves well with a three-run sixth inning that followed a three-run fifth. The Owls led 11-5 going into the bottom of the inning but were outscored 9-2 for the remainder of the game. Houston walked it off in the bottom of the ninth, breaking a 13-13 tie at the time.

What it means | Pushing the wrong buttons

Over the course of the last three games, Rice baseball has run into the realities that accompany having a revolving door at the back end of the rotation. Not having anyone nailed down to a particular role does give flexibility, but it also produces inherent challenges like what the Owls encountered on Tuesday night. No matter what button the staff pressed, outs wouldn’t come. Once an elite closer, Matthew Linskey was hit hard, too.

More: Rice Baseball Nonconference State of the Program

Midweek games against pitting teams with developing pitching staffs frequently feature lots of runs, that’s part of the game. Blowing six runs leads, though, that’ll sting regardless of how realistic your pitching expectations are for any individual contest. Houston scored in eight of nine innings. It’s hard to win any game where an opponent is that productive at the plate.

On the bright side, it was nice to see Paul Smith, Aaron Smigelski, Ben Royo, Manny Garza and Jack Riedel each deliver a multi-hit game. If the pitching staff isn’t going to be dominant, having healthy bats matters.

ON DECK | vs LA Tech (Thr-Sat)

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