FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
St. John’s 2 Texas 1
HOUSTON, Texas – The St. John’s baseball team plated the eventual game-winning run in the top of ninth to defeat No. 9 Texas, 2-1, in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament’s Houston Regional. Senior captain Jeff Grantham plated the game-winner with an RBI fielder’s choice, while Carlos Del Rosario had the other RBI for St. John’s (42-14). Red Storm starter Scott Barnes earned a no-decision after allowing just one run and striking out four in 7.2 strong innings. With the win, the Red Storm set a new school record with 42 wins. For Texas (37-21), Kenn Kasparek earned a no-decision after allowing one run and striking out four in 6.0 innings.
St. John’s threatened in the top of the first inning with back-to-back two-out singles by Carlos Del Rosario and Paul Karmas, but Texas starter Kenn Kasparek was able to induce a fly out to end the inning.
Barnes, meanwhile, set down the first four Longhorns before allowing a ground-rule double to Brandon Belt. After a groundout advanced Belt to third, Hernandez rolled a slow grounder past Barnes and towards second baseman Gino Matias. Hernandez slid into first base and was ruled safe on a close play, which allowed Belt to score as Texas went up 1-0.
Rice 3 Sam Houston State 2
The Rice baseball team scored three runs on seven hits and the pitching tandem of Ryan Berry and Bobby Bell made it stand up as the Owls defeated longtime rival Sam Houston State 3-2 in the squad’s opening game of the NCAA Houston Regional Tournament Friday evening at Reckling Park.
With the win Rice advances to play St. John’s (a 2-1 winner over the Texas Longhorns in the first game of the day) in the Regional’s winner’s bracket game. That contest is slated for 6 pm on Saturday at Reckling Park. Texas meets Sam Houston State in an elimination game Saturday at 2 pm.
Sam Houston State jumped on a the scoreboard for a run in the top of the first inning. Todd Sebek started the game off with a base hit through the left side and advanced to second base on a ground out. He scored on a single up the middle by Bobby Verbick to make the score 1-0.
Rice Recap
Sam Houston State Recap
