Rice (11-6, 3-0) vs. Charlotte (4-5, 0-3)
The Owls and Niners kicked off the conference slate this past weekend. Rice swept the series as they begin the road to defending their conference crown.
Game 1: Rice 4-2
In game one Kevin McCanna gave up 1 ER in 6.2 innings on 5 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts for the Owls. At the plate John Clay Reeves was 3-4 with 2 RBI. For Charlotte, Brett Netzer was 3-4 with a run scored.
Game 2: Rice 10-3
In the second game Leon Byrd hit a home run and had 2 RBI, Tristan Gray was 2-3 with a run and 2 RBI, and Kirby Taylor was 2-5 with a couple of runs scored for Rice. On the mound for the Owls Blake Fox went 6 innings, allowing just 1 ER on 8 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. In the loss, Eric Eason was 2-2 with an RBI and 3 walks for the Niners.
Game 3: Rice 6-3
Rice completed the sweep on Sunday as Byrd went 2-4 with a run and 2 RBI, Ryan Chandler was 2-5 with 2 runs and an RBI, and Charlie Warren was 2-3 with 2 runs and an RBI. Netzer had another solid day at the plate for Charlotte going 2-4 with a run and an RBI.
Florida International (8-7):
The Panthers got off to a tough start on the weekend losing the first game to UCONN 4-1 and the second game 5-3. In the 5-3 loss Julius Gaines was 2-4 with a run scored and Josh Anderson was 2-3 with a run and an RBI. They picked up a win in the third game 7-4 as Christopher Mourelle allowed just 2 ER on 4 hits and 3 walks over 7.2 innings with 5 strikeouts. At the plate Edwin Rios was 2-4 with a run and 3 RBI and Zach Soria was 3-3 with 2 runs scored.
Florida Atlantic (14-2):
FAU had a big weekend registering the 3-game sweep over Rutgers. They took the first game 18-5 as Christian Dicks was 2-4 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 5 RBI. Esteban Puerta was 3-4 with a home run, 3 runs and 3 RBI, and Stephen Kerr was 2-6 with 4 runs and an RBI. They won the second game 10-3 as Drew Jackson continued his stellar start to the season giving up just 1 ER on 2 hits and 3 walks over 6 innings with 4 strikeouts. Roman Collins was 1-3 with 3 runs and 2 RBI at the plate. In the final game the Owls won 12-4. Kerr was 3-4 with 2 runs scored and Dicks added a solo home run. Ricky Santiago stole the show going 3-5 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI. On the weekend Santiago was 6-11 with 2 home runs, 5 runs scored, 8 RBI and 3 walks.
La Tech (7-6):
The Bulldogs also had a good weekend picking up two wins over Texas A&M Corpus Christi before the third game got cancelled. They won the first game 6-2 as Tyler Clancy had a good day on the mound surrendering just 1 ER on 3 hits over 7 innings with 3 strikeouts. At the plate Taylor Nichols was 3-4 with 2 RBI. In the second game Phil Maton led La Tech to a 2-1 win. He tossed 7 strong innings, giving up 1 ER on 6 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. Brent Diaz was 2-3 at the plate with a run scored.
Marshall (6-8):
The Thundering Herd picked up two wins against George Mason over the weekend. They took the first game 5-4 in a 13 inning thriller. Sergio Leon was 3-4 with a run and an RBI and Matt Reed had the big 2-RBI hit in the 13th to help give Marshall the victory. They lost game two 6-4 despite Tyler Ratliff going 2-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. The won the series with a 9-6 victory as T.J. Diffenderfer was 3-3 with a home run and 3 RBI and Josh King was 2-5 with a home run and 2 runs scored.
Middle Tennessee State (8-4):
The Blue Raiders started out the weekend with a tough 2-1 loss to Iowa despite a solid pitching performance from Johnathan Frebis who gave up 2 ER on 6 hits and a walk over 6 innings. Brad Jarreau was 2-5 with an RBI in the 2-1 loss. They dropped the second game 6-1 as Austin Bryant was 1-3 with the team’s lone RBI. They fought to squeak out a 9-8 win in the series finale. Jarred Allen was 2-4 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI, while Jake Ingold was 2-4 with a home run and 4 RBI.
Old Dominion (4-5):
ODU was finally able to get on their home field and it was worth the wait as they picked up two wins over Penn. They won the first game 5-1 with Greg Tomchick allowing just 3 hits and a walk over 5.1 innings with 3 strikeouts, and P.J. Higgins going 2-2 at the plate with a run and an RBI. They won the second game 5-3 as Mike Perez went 2-3 with a run and 2 RBI.
Southern Miss (8-6-1):
The Golden Eagles stumbled into the weekend dropping the first two games to Oakland before picking up a win in game three and avoiding the sweep. They lost game one 3-2 as Matt Durst went 3-4 with a run scored. They dropped the second game 7-5 as Dylan Burdeaux went 2-5 and drove in three. They broke out in the third game with a 12-2 win. James McMahon allowed 2 ER on 6 hits and a walk over 7 innings with 4 strikeouts. Chase Scott was 3-5 at the plate with a run and 3 RBI.
UAB (9-4):
The Blazers struggled in their first road trip of the year dropping two-of-three to a good Kennesaw State team. They lost the first game 8-4 and the second game 6-3. In the 6-3 loss Chase Davis was 3-5 at the plate with an RBI. In a gritty effort they clawed their way to an 8-5 win to avoid the sweep on Sunday. Johnny Lieske turned out a solid effort on the mound allowing just 1 ER on 2 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings with 6 strikeouts. Griffin Gum was 2-5 with 3 RBI and Chase Davis was 2-3 with a run and 2 RBI.
UTSA (8-7):
The RoadRunners won the first game of the series against UC Irvine in dramatic fashion getting 2 runs in the bottom of the 10th for a walk-off 3-2 win. Brock Hartson started the game and lasted 7 innings giving up 1 ER on 5 hits and 4 walks to go along with 7 strikeouts. Jesse Baker was 3-5 with a run, and Geonte Jackson was 2-4 with the game winning 2-RBI double. They dropped the next two contest 10-5 and 9-3 as Tyler Straub combined to go 5-10 with 3 runs and 2 RBI in the losses.
Western Kentucky (6-6):
The Hilltoppers only managed to get one game in over the weekend against Ohio State and they lost 10-1. Cody Wofford was 3-4 with an RBI in the loss.
Player of the Weekend:
Ricky Santiago – Florida Atlantic – 6-11 with 2 home runs, 5 runs scored, 8 RBI and 3 walks.
Pitching Performance of the Weekend:
Tyler Clancy – La Tech – 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 ER and 3 strikeouts.
