HOUSTON, Texas – The HCU baseball team dropped the opener of a three-game series vs. Rice, 5-1, on Friday night at Reckling Park.
 
The Huskies (1-12) were led by freshman centerfielder Damian Ruiz who went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Senior shortstop Austin Roccaforte went 2-for-4 while redshirt junior third baseman Reed Chumley scored the only run HCU after reaching on a hit-by-pitch, and scoring on a fielder's choice.

Junior righthander Rye Gunter (0-2) took the loss, giving up five runs, five earned, on six hits with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings for HCU. Graduate student righthander Walker Zander pitched 3.1 shutout innings of relief, recording three strikeouts while allowing two hits.

Drew Holderbach went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, three runs, two RBIs, a walk, and stole a base for the Owls (6-8), while Connor Walsh went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk, and three stolen bases. Guy Garibay Jr. was 2-for-4 with a run.

Parker Smith (1-1) earned the win allowing one run, one earned, on five hits, with three walks and four strikeouts through the first five innings. Matthew Linskey earned his first save of the season pitching four scoreless innings of relief allowing one hit with five strikeouts and a walk.
 
Rice scored a run in the bottom of the second when Paul Smith hit a sac fly to center field scoring Drew Holderbach. The Owls added two runs in the bottom of the third when Holderbach tripled to right center scoring Guy Garibay Jr. followed by an error by HCU scoring Holderbach. Rice added their final two runs in the bottom of the fifth when Holderbach singled to right field scoring Pierce Gallo before Connor Walsh singled up the middle to bring in Holderbach.

The series continues Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. first pitch. Watch the broadcast on CUSA.tv with live stats available at HCUHuskies.com!