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Rice Baseball: Owls drop FIU series following dismal double header

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Rice baseball looked to have settled into some sort of rhythm, but a bad day of baseball led to a dropped double header and a series loss to FIU.

Winners of four straight entering the weekend, Rice was looking to reinsert themselves into the thick of the conference race with a strong showing against FIU over the weekend. Things got off to a strong start, but Rice struggled in a Saturday double header, dropping the series to an FIU team which had been scuttling prior to their trip to Texas.

The Owls’ record moves to 14-20 following the 1-2 weekend. Here’s a rundown of each result and three key things we learned about this team over against FIU.

FRIDAY | Rice 8 – FIU 5

It wasn’t a perfect night from Matt Canterino, but the Owls’ ace delivered his first complete game performance of his career in a winning effort to kick the series off on the right foot. Canterino had one rough inning, allowing four runs in the second, before settling down for the remainder of the contest.

The Rice offense bookended the game with big innings. Andrew Dunlap started things off with a two run home run in the first, his seventh long ball of the season. Rice scratched across one more run over the next five innings before getting the offense up and running once more in the seventh.

Trailing 5-3, Rice battled back with five runs in their final two trips to the plate. Bradley Gneiting picked up an RBI single in each inning. Trei Cruz and Braden Comeaux picked up RBI, too. The rally marked the first time this season Rice had won a game when trailing after six innings, breaking an 0-13 stretch.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON | FIU 13 – Rice 7

Flashes of offense on Friday night turned into a cavalcade of runs in the first half of the Saturday double header. The teams combined for 20 runs on 27 hits. The biggest difference was the dispersion of those runs. Rice scored five of their seven in a single inning, the second. FIU tacked on at least one run in six of the nine innings, putting up two or more on four separate occasions

It looked like the two teams were going to duke it out after Rice answered a 4-0 start by FIU with five runs of their own in the third inning. After a Comeaux triple scored two, Gneiting followed with an RBI single to bring Rice within one. Rice tied the game and took the lead on a pair of one-out singles by Dunlap and Justin Collins.

From that point onward it was all FIU. In relief of Evan Kravetz, who allowed five earned runs in 4.2 innings, Garrett Gayle, Jackson Tyner and Matt Deskins all allowed runs with Tyner allowing three to score while recording only one out. Rice snuck back two runs after falling behind 13-5, but was unable to do enough to climb out of the sizable hole.

SATURDAY NIGHT| FIU 5 – Rice 2

The bats cooled down for both sides as Jackson Parthasarathy and Franco Aleman strung together two of the better outings by any of the pitchers who took the mound this weekend. A two run home run by Jose Garcia put FIU in the lead in the second as the Rice batters struggled to string hits together.

Parthasarathy earned the win in long relief of Addison Moss last Saturday, earning a spot back in the rotation against FIU. His strong start gave Rice chances to get back into the game, holding the visitors to five hits and three runs, striking out three.

Rice would go to Aleman at the end of his outing, forcing him from the game after two runs in the eighth. That would be it for Rice, who dropped the game and the series in rather disappointing fashion.

TAKEAWAYS | FIU wins series 2-1

1. The offense is slowly heading in the right direction

There were moments this season where it felt like Rice needed all the stars to align for their offense to be successful over the course of nine full innings. The Owls scored 13 runs in three games against FAU and 13 in three games against UTSA. A 3-1 victory in the series opener against Old Dominion gave way to a 25 run finish over the final two games, a pace Rice maintained into the following weekend.

Rice managed 17 runs against FIU, the collection of which came from a variety of sources. Comeaux and Dunlap had big weekends, but they’re batting at the top half of the order precisely for that reason. It was players like Aaron Beaulaurier, Dominic Cox, and Cade Edwards who’ve had strong at bats as well.

Those parts stumbled on Saturday. Head coach Matt Bragga was noticeably frustrated with his team’s performance, “There is no magic answer,” he said, “If there was I would be doing it and we would be [winning].” Outside of the series finale, the offense has been moving in the right direction. Next week will be another test of the Owls’ ability to rebound.

2. Three, please

Canterino, Moss, Parthasarathy and Moss have what it takes to be weekend starters in Conference USA. It’s not reasonable to expect scoreless outings from whichever of the three are named to the weekend rotation each time. With that said, Rice hasn’t had a weekend where all three starters through well since they won two of three in the Shriner’s College Classic. The math doesn’t add up.

“When you pitch, you have a chance,” Bragga recounted. He was right. The result of a three-run game can be swung in a single inning. Too often things have been swinging the wrong for this rotation.

Rice has too much talent on the mound to be digging out of at least one sizable hole every weekend. This unit should regularly be throwing at least five innings without leaving the game early with a large crooked number on the board against them. The upside here is they’re capable of flipping the switch. The downside is they’re running out of weekends to put it all together.

3. And now for the home stretch

Even though it feels as if conference play just began, Rice is more than halfway through the 2019 season. The Owls have 34 games under their belt with 22 regular season games to play. It’s been a bumpy ride. Bragga summed it up best, “Good teams aren’t streaky. Good teams win.”

The Owls are within striking distance of .500 in conference play and have wins over in-state powerhouses Baylor and TCU. They have proof they’re capable of going toe-to-toe with most anyone, but the bigger number in the loss column speaks to the inconsistency with which they’ve struggled with all year.

Rice has one of the better arms in the league with a host of guys who could be great on a given night. The lineup is coming together and the fielding has improved by leaps and bounds. They’ll only be able to capitalize on those strengths by putting together more complete games in April and May.

ON DECK | at Texas (Tues),  at Charlotte (Fri-Sun)

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Rice Baseball: Previewing the FIU series

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Rice baseball hopes to extend their recent hot streak with a series win over FIU who visits Reckling Park this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know.

Listen online // Watch Friday (CUSA TV) // Watch Saturday (CUSA TV) // Watch Sunday (CUSA TV)

It’s been a very different week for FIU and Rice baseball. The Owls have won four straight and five of their last six, sweeping Old Dominion on the road last weekend before an emphatic Tuesday night win over Sam Houston State. FIU has been less fortunate, losing eight in a row with a 3-9 record away from home.

Rice will have a real shot to gain ground in Conference USA and regain level footing after an 0-5 start. Here’s everything you need to know for the weekend:

Projected Pitching Matchups

Friday – 7:30 pm: Matt Canterino (2-4, 2.62) vs Logan Allen  (3-2, 1.05)
Saturday – 3:00 pm: Evan Kravetz (2-1, 4.82)  vs Nick MacDonald (0-3, 3.34)
Sunday – 12:00 pm: Addison Moss (1-1, 9.98) vs Franco Aleman (0-2, 4.24)

FIU Pitching

Friday night looks like it’s going to be a pitcher’s duel between two of the most trustworthy aces in CUSA. Canterino has been strong, but FIU’s Logan Allen has been near perfect. The sophomore lefty leads the conference in ERA, strikeouts and batting average against. FIU has won five of the last six games he’s started and he’s pitched at least a five inning shutout in each of those wins.

Behind him the options grow more uncertain. Nick McDonald will throw Saturday, but neither team has officially named a Sunday starter yet. After starting Christian Santana against Houston on Wednesday,  Franco Aleman is the probable choice.

Out of the bullpen Rice will have to find a way to solve Jan Figueroa. He’s made 13 appearances on the season, tied for second most on the team, but has yet to allow a run. Opposing batters are hitting .129 against him. Angel Tiburcio, Will Saxton and Jose Machado should be in line to see some relief work as well.

FIU Hitting

Their offensive attack has been as scattered as their pitching staff has been reliable. FIU ranks dead last in CUSA with a .228 batting average and a lowly .367 slugging percentage. Their Friday night ace, Allen, also has the best bat on the team. He holds a .316 average and should be in the mix to see plenty of plate appearances this weekend.

After Allen, the lineup gets thin quickly. Lorenzo Hampton Jr. is the only other FIU player hitting better than .300 (he sports a .302 batting average). The team ranks dead last in the conference in doubles, 10th in triples, but fourth in home runs. That’s going to be the sticking point against Rice pitching. A few base runners plus well timed blasts will be the Panthers’ Plan A approach at the plate.

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Rice Baseball: Owls snap midweek blues with big win over Sam Houston State

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Rice baseball is in the midst of their longest winning streak of the year, tacking on a victory in a midweek contest over Sam Houston on Tuesday.

The bats struck early and finished strong as Rice evened the season series with Sam Houston at one game apiece. Rice struck first on a Trei Cruz home run in the first inning and opened things up with a five run second inning, kicked off with a Cade Edwards home run. Gneiting had a double in the frame, his first of two doubles on the night.

Sam Houston would narrow the deficit to 7-5 after the seventh inning, but that’s as close as they would get. Tenacious pitching paired with four runs across the final two innings suppressed any hope of a comeback down the stretch. After losing four of their last five midweek contests, Rice earned a much-needed win over the Bearkats. Here are a few postgame thoughts following the big win.

Loving the long ball

From March 3 to March 26, a span of 16 games, Rice hit nine home runs. They’ve blasted nine long balls in the past week, crushing seven against Old Dominion over the weekend before two more roundtrippers against Sam Houston on Tuesday. The injection of instant offense has had a calming effect on the entire lineup. Players don’t seem to be pressing as much. They’re being patience in the box and the results are encouraging.

Andrew Dunlap has led the way, but Trei Cruz and Cade Edwards broke through against Sam Houston. Multiple guys have proven they have the power to take one out of the ballpark, making the lineup that much more challenging to navigate for opposing pitchers.

Just when some counted them out

Things were looking pretty bleak midway through the Owls’ home series with UTSA less than two weeks ago. Rice had dropped seven consecutive games, starting 0-5 in conference play with an 8-17 record. Words like “rebuild” were being whispered around Reckling Park and the young season was being questioned.

Since then Rice has won five of their last six and four games in a row. They’re 4-5 in conference play and right back in the mix after falling behind early. There are still problems to be fixed and players in need of improvement, but the collective willpower of this team has proven to be undoubtedly tougher than many believed.

It’s not just the winning, it’s how Rice has won these games. Sam Houston beat Rice 10-9 a few weeks ago. Rice punched back with an emphatic 11-5 win. All phases are coming into form at the right time. This team is locked in and the results have been evident.

Take a bow, bullpen

A key piece of the recent success has been the resurgence of the Rice bullpen. They haven’t quite cemented themselves as automatic out-getters yet, but for one of the first times this season it feels like there are multiple options for coach Matt Bragga to call on out of the pen.

Tuesday night starter Kel Bordwine had trouble harnessing his command, giving way to a heavy dose of the pen against Sam Houston State. Jackson Tyner was sharp, striking out four in two innings. Blair Lewis added three K’s after him in two frames. Drake Greenwood had the lone bad outing, failing to record an out while allowing two runs. Garrett Gayle closed the door with three scoreless innings.

Those relievers plus some of the more established guys like Kendal Jeffries and converted starter Jackson Parthasarathy make for a sturdy back end on the mound.

UP NEXT | vs FIU (Fri – Sun)
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Rice Baseball: Road swing continues vs balanced SHSU squad

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Rice baseball swept Old Dominion over the weekend and will look to earn their longest winning streak of the season on Tuesday vs Sam Houston.

Winners of three straight, Rice baseball has tied their season-long mark of consecutive victories which they achieved against Baylor, TCU and Houston in early March. A win over Sam Houston on Tuesday would snap a three game losing streak in midweek games. Rice has lost four of their last five midweek games with the first loss in that stretch coming against Sam Houston on March 6.

Rice jumped out to a 9-5 lead but was unable to hold off their opponent. Sam Houston scored the deciding run on a bases loaded walk in the ninth inning. Rice will look to even the series on Tuesday.

When and Where

Pitching matchups

Kel Bordwine should be on the bump to start the evening, but there’s no telling how long he’ll stay there. The sophomore has been the Owls’ primary midweek starter over the last several weeks, but the committee approach has won out through most games. Drake Greenwood and Garrett Gayle could also see some action.

Landon Ausley will lead a similar committee for Sam Houston. He’s started a midweek game in each of the last three weeks, setting a season-high of four innings against Houston last week. A parade of arms will follow after him. James Kuykendall and Matt Dillard have been two of the most reliable pieces out of the pen while Riley Gossett and Nick Mikolajchak own five of the Bearkats’ six saves.

Names to know from the plate

Jack Rogers led the way in the Owls’ last meeting against the Bearkats in early March. The left fielder led the team with a single, double and home run, scoring three runs and adding two RBI from the leadoff spot. Rogers sports a strong .299 average, but only ranks in the middle of the pack amongst Bearkat hitters.

Jordan Cannon and Colton Cowser have been special from the plate. Cowser leads the way with 12 extra base hits and 28 RBI. Cannon has had less pot, but his patience at the plate has resulted in a stunning .505 on base percentage. The Rice pitchers will have their hands full against this lineup once again.

ON DECK | vs FIU (Fri-Sun)

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Rice Baseball: Owls flying high with road sweep vs Old Dominion

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It’s been a season of streaks, both good and bad, for Rice baseball. A road series sweep of Old Dominion has the Owls on the upswing.

The back and forth swings of the 2019 Rice baseball season hit a high note in Virginia. After winning their first conference game on Sunday against UTSA, Rice extended their CUSA winning streak to four games in a row with a three game sweep of Old Dominion.

The strong weekend boosts the Owls’ record to 12-18 (4-5 CUSA). While it wasn’t quite a “must win” series, the impact from the impressive showing will have repercussions in the days to come. Here are how each game finished and three final takeaways from one of the Owl’s best weekends of the season.

FRIDAY | Rice 3 – Old Dominion 1

Despite a 1-4 record entering the series, Rice ace Matt Canterino has been steady. Ufnoratunetly for him, one bad inning had spoiled his last few starts as the offense behind him sputtered. He only got three runs of support on Friday night, but Canterino was so locked in that would prove to be more than enough.

Canterino’s only run allowed came by way of a wild pitch in the fifth inning, an inning in which he recorded three of his season-high 12 strikeouts. The run could only even the score — Bradley Gneiting had opened up a 1-0 edge in the top half of the inning with an RBI single.

Rice would tack on two additional runs in the seventh and eighth innings on solo home runs to left field by Braden Comeaux and Justin Collins, respectively. Kendal Jeffries would relieve Canterino after six innings and silence Old Dominion for the remainder of the game, allowing one hit and zero runs as he faced the minimum to earn his third save of the year.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON | Rice 14 – Old Dominion 10

Both offenses came out swinging following the pitcher’s duel on Friday night. Neither starting pitcher made it past the third inning. Tommy Gertner recorded five outs and was charged with five runs after hitting four batters, walking two and allowing five hits. Rice starter Addison Moss was equally ineffective, allowing seven runs while walking three in 2+ innings of work.

Fortunately for the Owls, they had proven starter Jackson Parthasarathy waiting in the pen. He came on in the third and closed out the game, throwing seven innings of three-run ball. Old Dominion wasn’t nearly as fortunate. The Monarchs turned to six pitchers on the day, none of which lasted at least three innings. All but one, Trey Fisher who got the last two outs in the ninth, allowed fewer than two hits and one run.

Outfielder Dominic Cox led the way with seven RBI on three extra base hits, highlighted by his first home run on the season. Andrew Dunlap blasted two home runs of his own driving in four. Every player in the Owls’ lineup reached base at least once and the team totaled just seven strikeouts, tied for the fewest in conference play.

SATURDAY NIGHT| Rice 11 – Old Dominion 2

Bumped up from the previously scheduled Sunday start, Rice picked up where they left off in the earlier game, blasting past Old Dominion in the series finale to sweep the series. Evan Kravetz had arguably the best outing of his career, allowing three hits and two runs in eight innings of work against an Old Dominion lineup which had scored 10 runs against Rice only a few hours before he took the mound.

Kravetz allowed a single in the first before holding the Monarchs without a hit from the second to the sixth inning. Old Dominion scored twice on a pair of sacrifice flies in the seventh, but an 8-0 Rice advantage made the damage seem paltry in comparison.

As Kravetz dealt on the mound, Rice pounded out 16 hits, the most against any conference opponent yet this season. Dunlap hit his third home run of the day, extenind a 1-0 Rice lead to a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Collins would follow with another home run. The five-run margin proved to be more than enough, but Rice would tack on three runs in the seventh and ninth innings for good measure.

TAKEAWAYS | Rice wins series 3-0

1. The offense actually looks balanced

At the beginning of the season it felt like it was Trei Cruz against the world. The talented shortstop carries a big stick, but he’s since fallen down in the stat sheet following his hot start. Four every day starters are hitting .300 or better — that doesn’t include Cruz or Collins behind the plate. Nor does it count red-hot Dominic Cox.

The first seven batters Rice started in the last game of the series on Saturday were hitting .286 or better. Rice scored 11 runs. It’s not rocket science, but seven strong hitters typically leads to more productive offenses than weak lineups with one big-time slugger. That was where the Owls found themselves early on as Cruz flirted with a ,400 average. Now, they’re fairly even keeled with players emerging from all over the roster to make big hits.

This offense is more than just Trei Cruz right now. And perhaps not so coincidentally, the production increased exponentially.

2. More often that not, the rotation is going to be enough

Matt Canterino only went six innings, but he struck out 12. In quick relief of Addison Moss, Jackson Parthasarathy went seven innings on Saturday before Evan Kravetz slammed the door in the final game to secure the sweep. As a unit, it was a pretty good weekend, especially when you consider how much Rice needed to win to a weekend series.

If Rice can get close to that level of effectiveness each weekend in conference play they’ll be a threat to take down all comers. That’s especially true considering the masterful work of the Rice bullpen over the weekend. The three relievers utilized by coach Matt Bragg over the weekend  — Jeffries, Parthasarathy and Gayle —  allowed three runs on nine hits in 11 innings.

3. Resiliency

It’s been a season of streaks. After opening with a series win over Rhode Island, Rice looked out of touch in losses to Arizona and Texas as well as weekend series dropped to UC Irvine and Oklahoma. They righted that ship with a huge weekend at the Shriner’s College Classic at Minute Maid Park.

Then things went south again. Rice dropped their first five conference games and looked bad doing it. There were questions about whether or not this team could do enough to earn a postseason berth, something which has been the expected outcome of season at Rice for some time. Sitting in another low spot, Rice rallied again.

Baseball is an intensive character to test. Players on all teams learn a lot about themselves during the strains of tough stretches on the plate or at the ound. It takes intestinal fortitude, guts, to weather the storm and keep fighting. Whether or not they’ll reach the postseason or not remains to be seen, but this team continues to prove they’re going to battle. That’s a good sign.

ON DECK | at Sam Houston (Tues),  vs FIU (Fri-Sun)

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