Here is your 2011 NCAA Houston Regional Day 1 Recap.
HOUSTON – Even a season-high 22 hits and double-digit runs by the Rice offense could not overshadow a sensational complete-game pitching effort by Owl senior left-hander Abe Gonzales in the Rice baseball team’s 14-2 victory over Alcorn State in the opening round of the NCAA Regional Friday evening at Reckling Park.
Gonzales held the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Alcorn State to just a pair of runs on seven hits and no walks in only his sixth start of the season, and his first career start in the NCAA Tournament. The Houston native from nearby Saint Thomas High School struck out four and efficiently used 101 pitches to keep a Braves offense in check that only a week ago averaged 10 runs a game on the way to winning the SWAC Tournament title.
There were only three times when Alcorn State successfully had it’s leadoff batter reach base, and only once did Gonzales allow the Braves get a base hit after there were two outs recorded in the inning. He improved his record to 8-2 on the season with, for the first time all season, generous support in one of starts
Rice Recap
Alcorn State Recap
Baylor 6 Cal 4
HOUSTON – Baylor jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and Logan Verrett made sure that was enough as the Bears staved off a late rally for a 6-4 win over California in the first game of the NCAA Houston Regional at Reckling Park on Friday afternoon.
With the win, Baylor (30-26) advances to face the winner of the nightcap between Alcorn State and Rice. The Bears will play that team at 6 p.m. Saturday with a spot in the Regional title round on the line.
“I thought that we got really exceptional starting pitching out of Logan (Verrett), which is the key to any game,” head coach Steve Smith said. “I thought we played well defensively, executed well offensively. We had a couple of big-time plays, as did they.”
