HOUSTON, Texas – The Huskies jumped out to an early lead, but couldn't hold off the Owls in game two of the three-game series. Originally scheduled at Husky Field before moving back to Reckling Park due to field conditions, Rice came from behind to take down the Huskies, 7-3.
After a lead-off walk to get started in the bottom of the first inning,
Samuel Benjamin advanced to second on a single by
William Jewell, and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Tyler LaRue to grab an early lead. The next batter,
Dylan LaRue singled to center field to put runners in scoring position. A bullet off the bat of
Trent Baker caused an error by Rice's shortstop allowing Jewell to score and give the Huskies a, 2-0, lead. The Owls responded scoring three runs in the top of the second inning before adding another run in the top of the fourth inning and the top of the fifth inning. Down 5-2, the Huskies minimized the deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning when
Trevor Roper scored on a
Tyler LaRue double to right center to narrow the gap back to two runs at 5-3. The Owls closed out game two posting two runs in the top of the eighth inning to take game two, 7-3.
The Huskies (7-13) were led with five starters recording lone hits in game two.
Tyler LaRue went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI while
Luke Bard went 1-for-2 with two walks. Jewell went 1-for-5 with a run and Benjamin and Roper each tallied a run going 0-for-4 with a walk.
Parker Edwards (1-2) was tagged with the loss pitching three innings to start the game, allowing four runs, three earned runs, on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Nicholas Willard pitched four innings of relief giving up one run, no earned runs, on no hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
Brock Shoffner and
Mark Lopez each pitched a shutout inning of relief with Lopez recording a strikeout.
Rice (7-11) was led by Kyte McDonald going 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI while Jack Riedel went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a walk and a run. Manny Garza and Tobias Motley each went 2-for-5 and scored a run while Motley added an RBI and a double. J.D. McCracken (2-1) earned the win pitching five innings to start the game, allowing three runs, two earned runs, on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Tyler Hamilton notched his first save of the season pitching two shutout innings of relief with a walk and three strikeouts.
The three-game series will conclude with game three on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Reckling Park.
Live stats are available at HCUHuskies.com!
