SPECIAL TO THE RICE NEWS
With no shortage of drama, the second-ranked Rice baseball team came from behind and then held off a Texas Christian University rally to claim a 3-1 win over TCU in the championship game of the NCAA Houston Regional Sunday evening at Reckling Park.
With no shortage of drama, the second-ranked Rice baseball team came from behind and then held off a Texas Christian University rally to claim a 3-1 win over TCU in the championship game of the NCAA Houston Regional Sunday evening at Reckling Park.
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| TOMMY LAVERGNE |
| Top: Danny Lehmann connects for yet another hit to earn him the right to be named to the All-Regional team. Bottom: A huge strike-out for pitcher Joe Savery. |
This win advanced the Owls (52-12) to the NCAA Super Regional round for the third straight season and for the sixth time in the last seven years.
Junior all-America Joe Savery led five Rice players, including Danny Lehmann (catcher), Jared Gayhart (outfield), Tyler Henley (outfield) and Matt Langwell (pitcher) on the all-Regional team. Savery started on the mound Sunday and as Rice's designated hitter. Not only did he earn his 10th win of the season with a quality start, he also went 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to help his own cause.
Savery allowed TCU base runners in each of the first three innings, and twice the men reached scoring position, but he was able to work out of the jam each time. The Horned Frogs finally opened the scoring with what proved to be a lively fourth inning. Matt Vern led off with a base hit, Hunt Woodruff drew a walk and Bryan Kervin singled to load the bases with just one away.
TCU second baseman Ben Carruthers lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Vern for a 1-0 TCU lead. The Horned Frogs were looking for more, but Rice escaped the threat with a double-play grounder that not only ended the inning but swung the momentum in the Owls' favor.
The emotional lift from the twin killing sparked the team to a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Savery led off with a double to left and Diego Seastrunk doubled to center to drive him home for a new 1-1 game. It looked like Rice would take the lead when Jess Buenger doubled with one away, but Seastrunk was thrown out on a play at the plate.
Junior all-America Joe Savery led five Rice players, including Danny Lehmann (catcher), Jared Gayhart (outfield), Tyler Henley (outfield) and Matt Langwell (pitcher) on the all-Regional team. Savery started on the mound Sunday and as Rice's designated hitter. Not only did he earn his 10th win of the season with a quality start, he also went 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to help his own cause.
Savery allowed TCU base runners in each of the first three innings, and twice the men reached scoring position, but he was able to work out of the jam each time. The Horned Frogs finally opened the scoring with what proved to be a lively fourth inning. Matt Vern led off with a base hit, Hunt Woodruff drew a walk and Bryan Kervin singled to load the bases with just one away.
TCU second baseman Ben Carruthers lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Vern for a 1-0 TCU lead. The Horned Frogs were looking for more, but Rice escaped the threat with a double-play grounder that not only ended the inning but swung the momentum in the Owls' favor.
The emotional lift from the twin killing sparked the team to a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Savery led off with a double to left and Diego Seastrunk doubled to center to drive him home for a new 1-1 game. It looked like Rice would take the lead when Jess Buenger doubled with one away, but Seastrunk was thrown out on a play at the plate.
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| TOMMY LAVERGNE |
| Top: Joe Savery does it on the mound as well as with his bat to earn the win and capture the NCAA regional championship. Bottom: Aaron Luna goes over some of the particulars of the game with family and friends. |
The Owls, however, would not be denied, and Lehmann's two-out single to right scored Buenger for a 2-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth Savery reached on a TCU fielding error and he moved to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Seastrunk. Aaron Luna knocked a pitch into left center to drive Savery home and stretch the margin to 3-1.
It was something of a narrow margin, but it proved to be all the room the Blue & Gray needed. Savery fired three scoreless frames for the fifth, sixth and seventh. TCU all-Regional honoree Steven Trout singled to start the eighth and Savery gave way to reliever Bobby Bramhall. Bramhall induced the team's third double-play grounder on the very first pitch and struck out the next batter to end the inning. Savery tied a season-long 7.0 innings, allowing just one run on six hits and a walk while striking out three.
In the top of the ninth a Rice fielding error and a walk brought the potential leading run for TCU to the plate with one out. Bramhall cooly ended the game with a flyball and a strikeout. He notched his sixth save of the season by striking out three in 2.0 hitless innings.
Rice improved to 52-12 on the season with its fourth straight win. TCU's season came to an end at 48-14. The Owls move on to Super Regional action next week. Rice will meet the champion of the College Station Regional.
In the bottom of the sixth Savery reached on a TCU fielding error and he moved to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Seastrunk. Aaron Luna knocked a pitch into left center to drive Savery home and stretch the margin to 3-1.
It was something of a narrow margin, but it proved to be all the room the Blue & Gray needed. Savery fired three scoreless frames for the fifth, sixth and seventh. TCU all-Regional honoree Steven Trout singled to start the eighth and Savery gave way to reliever Bobby Bramhall. Bramhall induced the team's third double-play grounder on the very first pitch and struck out the next batter to end the inning. Savery tied a season-long 7.0 innings, allowing just one run on six hits and a walk while striking out three.
In the top of the ninth a Rice fielding error and a walk brought the potential leading run for TCU to the plate with one out. Bramhall cooly ended the game with a flyball and a strikeout. He notched his sixth save of the season by striking out three in 2.0 hitless innings.
Rice improved to 52-12 on the season with its fourth straight win. TCU's season came to an end at 48-14. The Owls move on to Super Regional action next week. Rice will meet the champion of the College Station Regional.
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