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Rice Baseball wraps up tough Year 3 under Jose Cruz Jr.

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Rice Baseball has closed the book on an up-and-down 2024 season as the program and head coach Jose Cruz Jr hope for brighter days ahead.

Three years into the Jose Cruz Jr. era, Rice baseball won its first postseason game of any kind since 2019, taking top-seeded ECU down to the wire twice in their final week of the season and coming up just short. Rice won the most games it’s ever won under Cruz, (23) the most conference games it’s ever won under Cruz (11), and took a weekend series from a Top 25 team (Louisiana) on the road for the first time under Cruz.

All of that is true, however, the other side of the coin is equally real and much less glamorous.

A team that Cruz described frequently as the best team he’s had yet at Rice finished 13 games under .500. They made the AAC Tournament on a tiebreaker, nearly sunk by a three-game sweep at the hands of a Memphis team that finished dead-last in the league. They were at the bottom of the conference in most offensive statistics, striking out almost 10 times for every home run they hit.

For much of the season, they were a bad baseball team underperforming their records in each of the prior two seasons before catching fire late. To call this season uneven would be generous. For a while, it was a runaway train, finally salvaged before it ran completely off the tracks. That reconnection and refocusing is what Cruz says he’ll remember most about this squad.

“At one point I think we were like one and nine in conference or something like that, so for us to have played well enough to get in [to the AAC Tournament] was really remarkable.”

According to Cruz, that late-season surge helped solidify a culture and an identity that he felt hadn’t quite materialized yet in full.

More: Rice Baseball wraps up 2024 season with AAC Tournament loss to ECU

“This season we ended up creating an identity for ourselves. [We] created what we are about, especially on the offensive side, deciding what the standard is, and what we expect of our guys in order for you to be in the lineup. I think all the guys that were bought in ended up being the guys that ended up playing a lot and ended up elevating us really to be able to make the tournament and go this far.”

And therein lies the conundrum with the Cruz-led Owls and the biggest question mark about this program moving forward. Why did it take three years to find that identity? And if the Owls have found it, what’s it going to take for this program to get out of the conference basement?

“I’m excited for the talent level to elevate moving forward. I think we’re going to have better athletes each year,” Cruz said, painting the implicit picture that this team will be better once it gets better players, players that are on the way in the form of, “my best recruiting class coming in next year.”

As we’ve seen with other Rice sports in recent years, a slow start doesn’t mean there isn’t hope for the future. Mike Bloomgren and football turned a woeful 2-win team into a back-to-back postseason-caliber program. It took time and talent, the two things Cruz continues to assure all onlookers remain on track.

Losing is a hard pill to swallow, especially at a program with as robust a history as Rice baseball possesses. If more talent is truly all this team needs, 2025 should be — and in many ways must be — the year everything comes together and this program gets back on track. Everyone is tired of tough seasons, Cruz the foremost, and while patience exists to allow him to build, it won’t be there forever. At some point, the wins need to come.

“The alumni’s support is great. The athletic department support is great. It is a new chapter in Rice baseball,” Cruz vowed, speaking that bright future into existence. “It’s exciting times for us.”

This game marks the end of the 2024 Rice baseball regular season. Thanks to everyone who has followed along with us this year and read our content. There’s plenty more on the way. Make sure you’re subscribed on Patreon for deep dives on the pitching staff, lineup and more in the weeks to come. If you’d like to send us a one-time token of appreciation, you can donate here. Thanks for joining us on the journey. Next season can’t get here soon enough.

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Rice Baseball season ends with AAC Tournament loss to ECU

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The fifth time was not the charm for Rice baseball, falling to ECU once again as the Owls’ AAC Tournament run came to an end on Friday.

For the second time this week and the fifth time in the last nine days, Rice baseball and East Carolina met on the diamond. The Owls had been swept in a three-game series in Greenville last week before falling to the Pirates in a heartbreaker on Tuesday to begin their AAC Tournament play. The Owls’ almost unprecedented fifth chance to take down the league’s top team did not get off to a good start.

The magic Rice had captured in their near-upset earlier in the week appeared to have run out as Rice starter Tucker Alch was lifted one batter into the second inning after allowing ECU to score three times in the first. With the season on the line, head coach Jose Cruz Jr. went to JD McCracken in a rare relief appearance, but the veteran didn’t have the same level of control this time around, allowing an inherited runner and three more runs to follow.

Rice found themselves with a lot of work to do. Trailing 6-0 after two innings and Manny Garza out of the game with an injury, Tyler Hamilton took the mound and gave his team a chance. Apart from allowing an inherited runner to come around, Hamilton dazzled with one run allowed on three hits, tossing five incredibly important innings.

“It was just really personal. He left it all out there and gave us all he had,” Cruz said. “Really proud of him doing what he did. It was great.”

As Hamilton dealt, his teammates began to chip away at the plate. Kyte McDonald drove in two in the fifth. Treyton Rank followed with a sac fly. Max Johnson’s two-out, two-run single in the following inning got Rice back within one run. All of a sudden, Rice trailed 7-6 with three innings to play.

An inning later, Rice trailed 8-6 but had the winning run on second base with no outs and the heart of the order at the plate. One run came in on a fielder’s choice before a groundout from Pierce Gallo ended the Owls’ season one run short of a thrilling comeback.

“Being down 6-0 and coming back and making it a ballgame, I’m pretty proud of the guys for just fighting all the way,” Cruz said.” That was the goal, just to fight for those 27 outs, and we did.”

This game marks the end of the 2024 Rice baseball regular season. Thanks to everyone who has followed along with us this year and read our content. There’s plenty more on the way. Make sure you’re subscribed on Patreon for deep dives on the pitching staff, lineup and more in the weeks to come. If you’d like to send us a one-time token of appreciation, you can donate here. Thanks for joining us on the journey. Next season can’t get here soon enough.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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Rice Baseball 2024: MLB Owls Update – May 22

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The 2024 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.

Tyler Duffey – Kansas City Royals

Duffey made one appearance this week, working through the eighth inning of a Royals’ win over the Detroit Tigers. He walked three but only allowed one run. It was his ninth appearance with the team this season after being called up in late April.

Through May 22, Duffey has a 5.00 ERA with a 1.667 WHIP. He’s averaging 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers got into three games with the Marlins this week, making two starts and collecting three RBI. He hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly on Tuesday against the Brewers and also added this monster home run shot on Sunday against the Mets.

Through May 22, Myers is hitting .286 with two extra-base hits, four walks and 12 strikeouts. His OPS is .864 and he’s collected eight RBI.

Injured List

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

Chargois was moved to the 60-day injured list on Sunday after initially beginning the season on the 15-day injured list. He won’t be eligible to return until late May at the earliest and hasn’t pitched in the minors since April 26 in a rehab stint.

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon is expected to miss a lengthy amount of time after suffering a partial tear in his left hamstring in late April. There is no timetable for his return as of yet, a frustrating development after a red-hot end of the month prior to suffering the injury.

Through May 2, Rendon is hitting .267 with three extra-base hits, six walks and 15 strikeouts. His OPS is .632 and he’s collected three RBI.

Glenn Otto – San Diego Padres

Prior to the beginning of the season, Otto was placed on the 15-Day Injured List on March 19 with a right teres major strain.

Knocking on the Door

The following Owls began the season in AAA:

  • Matt Canterino – St Paul Saints (Twins)
  • Tyler Duffey – Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) *promoted
  • Jon Duplantier – Syracuse Mets (Mets)
  • Tristan Gray – Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins)
  • Evan Kravetz – Louisville Bats (Reds)
  • Lucas Luetge – Worcester Red Sox (Red Sox)
  • Dane Myers – Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins) *promoted
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Rice Baseball overcomes deja-vu moment, soaring past UAB

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With the season on the line, Rice Baseball ace Parker Smith tossed a gem, powering the Owls past UAB in an AAC Tournament elimination game.

Parker Smith has been the Friday night starter for Rice baseball all season, typically making him the first man on the mound for every series. After head coach Jose Cruz Jr opted to throw JD McCracken a day early against East Carolina — a move that proved successful despite the unfavorable result — Smith was handed a somewhat unfamiliar role, the second man up.

That the Owls had their star pitcher on the mound with their season on the line is all that really mattered. Smith was unfazed by the juggled rotation order, mowing down Blazer after Blazer as he worked deep into the game, preserving the bullpen and giving his team the chance to play another day.

As Smith worked, his teammates steadily compiled a modest lead for him to protect. Jack Riedel launched a home run in the second inning. Another run came around to score in the next inning on a double-play groundout and a third followed in the fourth frame, courtesy of a UAB error. Kyte McDonald drove in another to make it 4-0 in favor of the Owls in the top of the seventh.

More: Parker Smith’s journey from hometown kid to Rice Baseball ace

Smith left the mound after running into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh, but a sprinting play by Ben Dukes in center field allowed Garrett Stratton to get out of the inning without damage. Smith finished the day with a final line of 6.2 innings pitched, six hits, eight strikeouts, two walks and, most importantly, zero runs allowed.

“It was very necessary,” Cruz said of Parker’s strong start. “I was very excited for him to be able to do that and give us that chance. It seemed like he was on his game from the beginning.”

In a somewhat fitting twist of fate, Rice found itself in a deja vu moment soon after Smith left the mound. The Owls once again held a 4-0 lead in the eighth inning with the bases loaded, just like they did in the prior game against ECU. Last time they failed to score and their opponent rallied to beat them late. This time, though, Rice got back-to-back run-producing at-bats, taking a 7-0 lead into the bottom half of the inning and preserving it with a double play.

“What a difference a day makes,” Cruz said with a bittersweet chuckle.

Riedel, who officially put the game out of reach with his league-leading 17th home run in the ninth inning, couldn’t help but notice the similarities in the situations. “We kind of were in the same spot today [as yesterday against ECU] and sometimes it just happens in baseball, right,” he said. “We were in a fortunate spot today to take advantage of it and get the lead right there.”

Rice will have an off day tomorrow before resuming tournament play on Friday. Tucker Alch is expected to get the start with the Owls’ entire arsenal in the bullpen available to assist. They’ll either be in a rematch with ECU for the fifth time in eight days or a matchup with Wichita State.

“It’s a gigantic confidence builder for us. We haven’t won a conference [tournament] game in years, it’s been a while. It’s exciting for us to be able to play on, in a do-or-die situation to come out like we did,” Cruz said. “Our confidence is high.”

Up Next: Friday, May 24 at 12:00 pm CT vs Loser of Wichita State/East Carolina

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Rice Baseball squanders late lead, falling to ECU in AAC Tournament

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Rice Baseball started strong before everything went wrong in a disastrous 12-run eighth inning that sent the Owls from an upset bid to an elimination game.

Days removed from a disastrous one-inning start, perhaps his worst of the season, Rice baseball hurler JD McCracken delivered an incredible bounce-back performance. On an afternoon when his team desperately needed him to deliver, the Owls’ typical Saturday starter tossed six shutout innings, allowing just two hits, neither of which left the infield.

“They didn’t really get a chance to see him last time we faced them,” head coach Jose Cruz Jr. said of McCracken’s big day. “He had some really good bullpens after that and we thought he was the best matchup for them and he proved us right. He pitched great, man. He was very competitive, tough, on a really good hitting team and he held them down pretty ferociously.”

Thanks to McCracken, through seven innings, everything was going right for the underdogs. A Rice team that was outscored 29-11 in three games this past weekend in Greenville, to that point, played strong defense, committed zero errors, and executed just well enough on offense to spot them a 4-0 lead midway through the eighth inning. That’s when disaster struck.

Kyte McDonald lost a ball in the sun which resulted in a leadoff triple. ECU loaded the bases and proceeded to take the lead on three consecutive bloop singles, which landed just past the heads of the Owls’ infielders. There was a botched double play ball. Nothing was hit hard off ace reliever Davion Hickson, but ECU just kept coming. McDonald lost another ball in the sun a few batters later before the Pirates eventually broke the game open with a bases-loaded triple off Tom Vincent.

“I haven’t really been a part of anything quite like it,” Cruz said of the decisive eighth inning. “It just seemed like it was just one thing after another after another. A couple plays that we should have executed that probably would have changed the entire inning early on and we just didn’t get it done.”

Trailing 4-0, ECU had scored 12 unanswered runs, tattering the boxscore of the Owls’ best relief pitchers and ruining what began as a storybook afternoon for Rice baseball.

“Ultimately there’s 27 outs and we were just a little short there at the end.”

The 12-run eighth-inning implosion exacerbated what had been a 1-for-11 outing with runners in scoring position for Rice hitters with 11 runners left on base. An ineffective offensive day combined with a bad inning to end all bad innings sent the Owls to the loser’s bracket. The next time they play, tomorrow against UAB, their season will be on the line.

More: Parker Smith’s journey from hometown kid to Rice Baseball ace

Cruz will turn to Parker Smith to start that elimination game. “He’s been our ace the entire year, for a couple years, really. He’s going to be ready to go and I’m sure he’s going to be chomping at the bit to get out there,” Cruz said.

“It stinks at the moment, but we got to try and shake it off and be as prepared as possible for tomorrow.”

Up Next: vs 5-Seed UAB – Wednesday, May 22 at 12:00 p.m. CT

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