Game five of the Houston Region is elimination for both teams, host Rice University and Sam Houston State. Rice now trails 2-1 top of 8. And they've gone to their 3rd pitcher of the day. The Rice starter Matthew Reckling went 4ip, Taylor Wall 2ip, and Tyler Duffey finished. Strike outs for the Owl pitchers didn't come today, only 9 between the three pitchers.
Where as, Sam Houston State starter Sr, RHP, Michael Oros, rolled along. Still on the mound, top of the 8th. Having faced Rice during the season, Bearkat Sr,RHP,Oros, "Trying to get the ball down and away, and come in to to put them away. Basically, just throw secondary pitches for strikes, as well as the fastball." Then Bearkat closer RHP, Michael Burchett closed out the ninth. Picking up his 10th save of the season.
What has the Owls this season caught up with them today. Leaving runners on base. Other than the 2 errors that both teams have accounted for. It's been defense and pitching. Both teams were not able to take advantage of scoring opportunities early. And what looked like another 1 run game, changed when the Bearkats were able to score 2 runs in the bottom of the eight. Sam Houston Asst Co Sean Allen addressed this in post game. "With a 1 run lead, you've got to be perfect, you've got throw strikes, and SHSU relief RHP Michael Burchett did a great job of pounding the strike zone and letting them hit the ball." Bearkats win! 4runs, 11hits, 2 errors. Rice is eliminated. 1run, 8hits, 2errors.
This is the first Rice Owl Senior class, since before 1997, to not make a trip to Omaha. Which is has become a standard for this program.
Post game Rice Owl Baseball Coach Wayne Graham addressed some reassessments. "We're going to have to revisit a lot things and figure some things out. We will, ... I think our hitting approach has got to locked in better. Somehow we've got to get back to that. We've got to get away from chasing pitches that we can't hit and get locked into the strike zone and pitches we can hit. We weren't there somehow. But, we have some ideas about how to get back there and I think we will." Both, RF, Jeremy Rathjen and DH, J. T. Chagois mentioned, "disappointing." As to how each felt about the end of the season.
The Bearkats now go into this evenings game 6, against Arkansas without having to use their bullpen. it will be interesting how this evenings game goes. Hopefully it wont be a repeat of Friday night match up. Errors at an untimely situation, and runners scoring because of it.
Houston Region, Game 5 photos.
Next up Arkansas vs Sam Houston State.
What has the Owls this season caught up with them today. Leaving runners on base. Other than the 2 errors that both teams have accounted for. It's been defense and pitching. Both teams were not able to take advantage of scoring opportunities early. And what looked like another 1 run game, changed when the Bearkats were able to score 2 runs in the bottom of the eight. Sam Houston Asst Co Sean Allen addressed this in post game. "With a 1 run lead, you've got to be perfect, you've got throw strikes, and SHSU relief RHP Michael Burchett did a great job of pounding the strike zone and letting them hit the ball." Bearkats win! 4runs, 11hits, 2 errors. Rice is eliminated. 1run, 8hits, 2errors.
This is the first Rice Owl Senior class, since before 1997, to not make a trip to Omaha. Which is has become a standard for this program.
Post game Rice Owl Baseball Coach Wayne Graham addressed some reassessments. "We're going to have to revisit a lot things and figure some things out. We will, ... I think our hitting approach has got to locked in better. Somehow we've got to get back to that. We've got to get away from chasing pitches that we can't hit and get locked into the strike zone and pitches we can hit. We weren't there somehow. But, we have some ideas about how to get back there and I think we will." Both, RF, Jeremy Rathjen and DH, J. T. Chagois mentioned, "disappointing." As to how each felt about the end of the season.
The Bearkats now go into this evenings game 6, against Arkansas without having to use their bullpen. it will be interesting how this evenings game goes. Hopefully it wont be a repeat of Friday night match up. Errors at an untimely situation, and runners scoring because of it.
