DBU's Baseball Team traveled to
Houston, Texas , on Tuesday, February 20, to take on the #6 ranked Rice Owls in an afternoon showdown. DBU, who could not get the timely hit when needed, left seven Patriots on base, in a 7-1 loss to the Owls. With the win Rice improved to 6-4, while DBU fell to 4-3.
The Rice Owls struck first in the bottom half of the first inning when they managed to lead off the game with a hit by pitch and then advance the runner to third on a bunt single and an error by DBU. The Owls then scored both runs off a single to right field. DBU cleared the bases with an untraditional double play to get two outs in the inning. Aaron Luna followed up the double play with a solo home run to left field to give the Owls a 3-0 lead after one.
The Owls added to their lead in the bottom of the second inning, when they led off the inning with three consecutive hits and two runs scored. Rice scored one more run in the inning when they slapped the ball around the park with two outs to bring the score after two, to 6-0.
After three innings of shutout baseball and several failed opportunities by the Patriots to put runs on the board. The Owls padded their lead in the bottom half of the sixth inning, when they ran Junior Brett Lester out of the game and scored one run off of three hits. Freshman Ryan Millard entered the game with the bases loaded and one out to stop the damage by getting the final two outs of the inning, leaving the score 7-0 in favor of the Owls.
The Patriots tried to make a run in the top of the ninth inning when Senior Matt Tucker led off the inning with a single and advanced to third off two Rice errors. Tucker then scored off a ground out by Freshman Ryan Enos. Freshman Ryan Goins came up and drew a walk but was caught stealing to end the game.
Rice used four different pitchers to combine for five hits and one run allowed against the Patriots. DBU, who came into the game averaging over six runs a game, scored one run for the second time in two weeks. The Patriots threw four pitchers at the Owls, who combined for seven runs on eleven hits, including six of the runs in the first two innings.
Leading the Patriots at the plate was Tucker, who went two for four with one run scored, while Lester had another strong showing on the mound. Lester pitched 3.2 innings, allowing one run, four hits, and striking out five.
Picking up the loss for DBU was Senior Randall Taylor who fell to 0-1 on the season, while Scott Lonergan picked up his first victory of the season for the Owls to improve to 1-0.
DBU will host their 2007 Southwest Diamond Classic on February 22-24, and will play their next game on February 24, when they take on
Missouri
State , at 7:00, at the Dr. Pepper Ball Park in
Frisco, Texas .
