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Rice Baseball: Owls down Houston, take home Silver Glove

May 14, 2019 By Matthew Bartlett

Rice baseball and Houston clashed for a third and final time in the regular season as the Owls took the game and the Silver Glove series with a win at Constellation Field.

“I could throw a baseball 150 feet to [Houston baseball coach Todd Whitting’s] house from where we live,” mused Rice baseball coach Matt Bragga after his first Silver Glove Series victory. The cross-town, and apparently cross-street rivalry has rich roots but holds a special meaning for Bragga and his team this year.

“It was fun for our guys,” Bragga said in the midst of postgame celebrations. “It was exciting to see them take the glove there at the end and hoot and holler a bit. That’s fun to get hardware.

That hardware came by way of a rather innocuous start. A groundout from Braden Comeaux and a sac fly from Justin Collins were the only runs Rice scored against Houston on Tuesday, but those two runs would prove enough. Six different pitchers and some carefully executed defensive plays would hold the Owls’ lead for the remainder of regulation.

Here are three things which stood out from the Owls’ important win.

1. Bullpen arms make their final midweek auditions

For Drake Greenwood and the arms who followed him on the mound Tuesday, this was a live-action audition for the weeks ahead. Rice has had their weekend rotation set for more or less the entirety of the season. They haven’t figured out the order immediately following the top three.

If Rice wants to make it to the NCAA Tournament, they’ll need to do all they can to win the Conference USA Tournament. That’s going to require more than three starting pitchers, it could take as many as seven. For most staffs, that means someone who hasn’t carried much of the load during the regular season is going to have to step up.

Greenwood lasted 1.1 innings, walking four before hitting the showers. Jackson Tyner was equally ineffective in the fifth, loading the bases while getting one out. Dalton Wood had two good innings, striking out three, before allowing the potential winning run to reach base in the ninth.

On the positive side of the ledger, a few arms did impress. Blair Lewis escaped a 1-out, bases loaded jam in the second. From there he went 2.2 innings, allowing one hit, one walk while striking out two. Kel Bordwine pitched through Tyner’s leftovers, holding the Rice advantage and striking out two in 1.2 innings. Kendal Jefferies came through in the clutch, closing things out with a two-out save.

2. The bats are improved, but still inconsistent

Rice did not have a hit in the third or the fourth inning but managed to score a run in each frame. Although this team will take runs wherever they can find them, the lack of reliable production remains a sticking point. The Owls have enough starting pitching to go toe-to-toe with just about anyone, but that will only take them so far. They need to find a way to get hits, and get them more often than once every other inning. They were limited to three hits on Tuesday.

The pitching wasn’t at their best, but was able to strand 14 Houston runners. That allowed Rice to be in position for the win — their only win this season when scoring two or fewer runs. Rice had been 0-11 previously. The win counts, but Rice can’t count on finding similar victories with such limited production from the plate.

3. Silver Glove

Rice struck first in each of the three games of the Silver Glove series. They held on at Schroeder Park in April and faltered at home on May 1. That set up this winner-take-all pivotal matchup. With the benefit of just enough umph to get things done, Rice took the series.

It’s been an adventurous year for coach Matt Bragga at Rice. There have been highs, lows and confounding twists and turns. Nevertheless, he’s taken back the Silver Glove and his team is in position to make a run in the conference tournament. This team is better than their record and they’re headed in the right direction.

ON DECK | at Marshall (Thr-Sat)

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Filed Under: Featured, Archive, Baseball Tagged With: Blair Lewis, Drake Greenwood, Rice baseball

Rice Baseball: Owls top Southern Miss in water-logged series

May 12, 2019 By Matthew Bartlett

Rice baseball pushed through the rain for a massive series win over one Conference USA’s best team, taking two of three from Southern Miss.

Pouring rains forced the rescheduling of two games, but the end result was almost exactly what Rice baseball wanted — a series win over the first place team in the conference. The resiliency of this squad was on display as they played their final set of games at Reckling Park this season. The seniors sent themselves out on a high note and put Rice one step closer to a trip to the conference tournament.

Here’s the rundown of how each game played out and three closing thoughts on the impressive series win.

FRIDAY | Southern Miss 6 – Rice 3

The opening game of the series started out much the same way as the typical Friday has for the Owls. Matt Canterino powered through his first five innings with relative ease, allowing two runs on three hits. With Rice behind 2-0 in the fifth, the offense leveled the score. Aaron Beaulaurier flared a bases-loaded single into centerfield, bringing the score back to a 2-2 deadlock. It wouldn’t last long.

Canterino walked the first two batters in the sixth, setting the table for a 2-RBI single from the Golden Eagles. By the time he was relieved later in the sixth by Blair Lewis, Rice trailed 4-2. Southern Miss would add a solo home run in the inning, taking a 5-2 lead into the seventh.

Rice had chances, but four double plays turned by Southern Miss, a high for Rice opponents this season, kept the Owls from finding any level of consistency. Southern Miss and Rice traded single runs in the ninth, closing out the opener 6-3.

SATURDAY | Rice 4 – Southern Miss 0

After Friday’s disappointing showing and another modified schedule courtesy of incorrigible Houston weather, Rice returned to Reckling with purpose. Evan Kravetz was magnificent on the mound. The senior, who was a late addition to the Owls’ rotation to start the year, pitched one of the best games of his career in a moment when the team needed him the most. Kravetz struck out 10 batters in 7.1 innings, walking four while allowing three hits.

Kravetz was aided on the mound by a quick jolt from the offense. Trei Cruz took the first pitch he saw in the first inning and plopped it over the left field fence. The bomb scored Braden Comeaux, giving Rice a 2-0 lead. The Owls would tack on another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Comeaux and another in the eighth on an Andrew Dunlap sac fly.

A shaky relief performance from Kendal Jefferies produced nerves in the Rice dugout before the game was complete. Jefferies loaded the bases in the eighth before coaxing an inning-ending double play. He allowed to Southern Miss batters to reach in the ninth, but escaped that inning without any damage, too. It wasn’t pretty, but he got the outs and the Owls got the win.

SUNDAY | Rice 7 – Southern Miss 2

If a 2-0 lead was comfortable on Saturday, a 4-0 lead felt like an insurmountable advantage for Rice in the rubber game. With Jackson Parthasarathy on the mound, Rice jumped all over Southern Miss. Andrew Dunlap opened things up with a 2 RBI single in the first. Justin Collins followed it up almost immediately, ambushing the first pitch he saw and lifting it over the left field wall, driving in Cade Edwards.

Southern Miss would turn to the bullpen in the first inning. Rice had no such concerns, relying on their Sunday stud through 6.1 innings of one-run ball. In his final home outing, Parthasarathy struck out five, leaving the game in the hands of the bullpen for the final eight outs.

Dalton Wood got the first try but was pulled out quickly after walking two batters on eight pitches. Garret Gayle was up next. He wasn’t perfect, allowing two runs, one charged to each of his proceeding pitchers. He settled down, posting zeroes in the final two frames to lock down the win.

TAKEAWAYS | Rice wins series 2-1

1. This team plays differently with the lead

When Rice has one of their starters on the mound and an early lead the entire psyche of the team seems indomitable. The energy picks up, the bats are more focused and the defense stays in lockstep. That’s what happened Saturday when Cruz launched his home run and it’s what happened Sunday with the big first inning.

The starting pitching is the Owls’ best weapon. When those guys on the mound know they can throw strikes without the need to be absolutely flawless, they pitch better. Rice is going to have the advantage on the mound in almost every game they play through the conference tournament. If those arms can get even the slightest early bump this is a team who could contend for the tournament title.

2. The bullpen keeps getting more and more confusing

If not for a game-changing double-play ball on Saturday evening, Jefferies, one of the Owls most trustworthy relievers could have been sitting on his third bad outing over his last four appearances. He got the job done, but the performance leaves room for doubt.

Blair Lewis and Drake Greenwood both allowed runs in short appearances on Friday. Dalton Wood blew his chance on Sunday and Garrett Gayle allowed two inherited runners to score.

Rice won the series, but there wasn’t anyone in the bullpen who made a strong case to be the first man called in a tough situation. If coach Bragga is going to ride his starters as long as they can go, which makes sense given how good they’ve been, a sticky situation or two might occur. Right now, Rice lacks a go-to guy in the pen and they’ve got a week to find it.

3. Inching closer and closer to Biloxi

Entering their weekend series with Southern Miss, Rice needed to find a way to secure three wins in their final six games to feel confident about clinching a spot in the CUSA Baseball tournament. They didn’t take three from the Golden Eagles but they won two important games.

Rice is 14-13, good for fifth place in CUSA with the tiebreaker over Old Dominion. The Owls are three wins better than Marshall (11-5), UTSA (11-15), FIU (11-16) and Middle Tennessee (11-16). With a single win in their final conference series, Rice clinches a postseason berth.

ON DECK | vs Houston (Tues), at Marshall (Thur-Sat)

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Filed Under: Baseball, Archive, Featured Tagged With: Evan Kravetz, Jackson Parthasarathy, Justin Collins, Rice baseball, Trei Cruz

Football: Former Harvard Running back Charlie Booker to transfer to Owls

May 9, 2019 By Matthew Bartlett

Former Harvard Crimson running back and Houston native, Charlie Booker has committed to play out his remaining eligibility with Rice football at South Main.

Mike Bloomgren spent the winter and early spring scouring the Transfer Portal in search of players who can provide an impact on the field immediately this coming season. After adding several graduate transfers in the weeks leading up to National Signing Day the Owls are working to put the finishing touches in place this spring.

There are a few loose ends to wrap up in the 2019 class, but Rice crossed one area of need off the list with the addition of former Harver running back Charlie Booker. The former Cy Ranch standout plans to join his former quarterback Tom Stewart at South Main in the fall.

A two-time team MVP and senior captain for the Crimson, Booker was a first-team All-Ivy League selection in 2017, racking up 733 yards and six touchdowns that season. In three seasons he amassed 1,230 yards and 10 scores. He fell into a timeshare role in 2018, but remained every bit as explosive. Rice has several shifty backs on the roster. Booker has some twitch, but more importantly, he runs hard north and south.

Booker’s addition gives the Owls a stable of talented running backs to lean on to support Bloomgren’s run-heavy scheme. That’s especially important given the offseason departures of Austin Walter (graduation) and Emmanuel Esukpa (transfer).

The new transfer will be aided by Aston Walter and Juma Otoviano. Freshman Jawan King could force his way into the mix as well. Having this many capable mouths to feed is a good problem to have. That’s especially true when two of those four horses are experienced veterans like Booker and Walter.

Standing 5-foot-9, Booker tips the scales right at 200 pounds but he plays big. He’s a candidate to be the most physical runner on the roster from day one. Just check out the first play on his highlight reel.

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Rice Baseball: Owls crumble late as Houston evens Silver Glove Series

May 2, 2019 By Matthew Bartlett

Rice baseball took an early lead, but couldn’t hold on dropping the second game of the Silver Glove Series to Houston on Wednesday night.

A hot start from the Rice bats wouldn’t be enough to secure their second win over Houston this season and clinch the Silver Glove Series.

Things started off on the right track. Bradley Gneiting got things going with a double to left center. He was quickly driven in by Trei Cruz to give Rice the 1-0 lead. Next, Andrew Dunlap was hit by the pitch for a team-leading 17th time, setting up Cade Edwards for an RBI single to extend the Rice lead to 2-0.

Houston would tie the game up in the seventh with a two-out double down the right field line. The score remained 2-2 entering extra innings before disaster struck in the 10th. Jackson Tyner loaded the bases and Ben Schragger allowed three runs on two walks and a hit batsman. Two more relievers would try their hand, but the game was quickly out of hand. Rice was shut out in the home half of the inning, dropping the game by a final score of 8-2.

1. Defense moving from deficit to asset

Sloppy play in the field was a significant contributing factor to the Owls rough start to the season. Rice wasn’t able to string together two error-free games together until March 22 and March 23, two games into conference play. They haven’t been perfect in the field since then, but the Owls had 11 multi-error games before that juncture and have reached that mark six times since.

Not only are they not making mistakes, but players across the diamond are also stepping up to make big plays. Gneiting made a nifty save on the track in right field in the fourth and Brandt Frazier snagged a missile sent his direction in the fifth. Rice committed no errors in 10 innings.

2. Bordwine’s best

The chances of broaching the weekend rotation this season are slim to none, but Rice is going to need all the arms they can find if they want to make a run through the CUSA Tournament and vie for NCAA Tournament slot. Using midweek games like Wednesday’s clash with the Cougars to identify those extra weapons is a must. Bordwine rose to the occasion and could write his name into lineup cards more often moving forward.

Bordwine tied a career-long set earlier this season against Prairie View A&M with five innings pitched. He allowed one hit, struck out one and walked two. He might not be as dominant as some of the other arms Rice can turn to in a pinch, but having one more reliable option is always a good thing.

3. Failing to clinch the Silver Glove Series now is a missed opportunity

When Rice was in their heyday, the Silver Glove seldom left South Main. Rice won the series every season from 2001 to 2013. As far as baseball was concerned, the Owls ruled the city of Houston. A win on Wednesday would have given the Owls a 3-3 split with the Cougars over the last six seasons. Instead, they’ll get one more chance in the rubber game of the series, held later this season at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.

Winning rivalry games is an important step in restoring the program to its historic roots. Rice has already accrued wins over in-state powers TCU and Baylor. Those are proof of a strong foundation being built by Bragga during his first campaign at Rice. There’s still more to be done.

ON DECK | at Western Kentucky (Fri-Sun)

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Jack Fox vs Dustin Colquitt: Evaluating the Kansas City Chiefs punters

April 30, 2019 By Matthew Bartlett

Undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Jack Fox signed a free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. He’ll battle veteran Dustin Colquitt for the punting job.

Jack Fox made waves with his impressive senior season at Rice. Now he’s on to the NFL where he’ll attempt to earn himself a spot on the roster of the Kansas City Chiefs. The limited roster room leads few NFL teams to carry multiple punters. If Fox is going to stay on with the Chiefs, he’ll most likely have to beat out veteran punter Dustin Colquitt.

Colquitt has 15 years of NFL experience, all with the Chiefs, and recently signed a 3-year, $7.5 Million extension in 2018. He’s due $4.5 Million over the next two seasons; Fox signed a 3-year deal which will pay him $1.765 Million over the next three seasons. From a purely financial perspective, Fox has a much more affordable deal.

More: The incredible story of Jack Fox

Fox has a good financial case, but that’s only going to come into play if he can produce on the field in camp. The Chiefs will get a look at both guys in person, for now, we’ll have to settle with a snapshot of how each player faired last season — Colquitt with Kansas City and Fox with Rice.

2018 Stats

Player Colquitt Fox
Games 16 13
Punts 45 80
Yards 2,021 3,636
Avg 44.9 45.5
Long 67 76
TB 5 13
In20 21 31
Net 40.5 40.1

The Kansas City offense was so effective last year Colquitt posted a career-low 45 punts. The Rice offense was not as efficient, providing Fox plenty of opportunities. Fox led the nation in punting yardage and matched up favorably with Colquitt across the board in most major statistics.

On paper, Fox absolutely has a chance to make the team. The Chiefs gave him guaranteed money, which indicates they think he’s got a good shot to stick around. If he doesn’t make the roster, he’ll be a practice squad player and have more opportunities to kick in the NFL down the road.

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