WSU vs Rice

[Kung Wu]

Not at home today, so somebody else can fill in the details of they wanna!

[1972Shocker]

Rice (9-16, 1-2 American) vs. Wichita State (15-9, 2-1 American)

• ESPN+ (GAME 1)
• ESPN+ (GAME 2)
• ESPN+ (GAME 3)
• LIVE STATS
• LISTEN LIVE KFH 97.5 FM/1240 AM

Thursday, March 28 | 6:00 pm CT | Wichita, Kansas (Eck Stadium)
RHP Tucker Alch (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Brady Hamilton (1-2, 3.32)

Friday, March 29 | 11:00 am CT | Wichita, Kansas (Eck Stadium)
RHP Parker Smith (2-2, 3.52) vs. LHP Caden Favors (4-1, 2.83)

Saturday, March 30 | 12:00 pm CT | Wichita, Kansas (Eck Stadium)
LHP J.D. McCracken (2-2, 3.28) vs. RHP Tommy LaPour (2-1, 4.94)

SCOUTING RICE: The Owls are off to a 9-16 start in 2024 following a midweek defeat on the road at Sam Houston State on Tuesday. They dropped two of three games in the AAC opener against Tulane, avoiding the sweep with a 4-2 win on Sunday. Rice features a solid weekend rotation and one of the conference's best closers in Davion Hickson (1-0, 4 saves, 1.27 ERA) but have struggled to put runs on the scoreboard. The Owls rank 284th out of 295 teams in scoring at just 4.2 runs per game and have a team slash line of .229/.332/.341, all percentages that rank 274th or worse nationally. Former Wichita State outfielder Kyte McDonald is among the most potent hitters in the Rice lineup, hitting .288 with 11 extra-base hits. Former Owls star José Cruz Jr. in his third season as head coach, with a career record of 47-92 (.338).

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The rise and fall of Rice baseball under Wayne Graham is strikingly similar to that of the Shockers under Gene Stephenson although Gene had a longer run and the beginning of the fall of the Shockers might have been a couple years before Rice's decline started.

Looks like the strength of this Owls team is pitching and those kind of teams can be dangerous.

[WuDrWu]

Solid pitcher, great closer. We need to have quality at bats and play clean and we should be ok. This is a week where we should make a statement, but we're struggling at the plate, so there is reason for concern.

[Cdizzle]

I blame the ump. Hamilton struck out the leadoff man in the 2nd TWICE without getting it called. Hasn't been the same since.

[Cdizzle]

Goodness. We started the season quite well doing things like catching the ball

[Cdizzle]

So glad we are sitting a guy that has slumped heavily to .284 so we can watch a guy flail at .110.

[ShockerFever]

Rice is ranked 11th to last in the country in scoring?

lol

[Cdizzle]

Durnin better be trying to steal here with 2 outs and CJohnson at bat.

[ShockerFever]

10 left on through 5. I feel like we’re reverting back a bit.

[Cdizzle]

Weird game. We've now hit into 4 double plays in 6 innings. Wish we did a little more on the base paths. But the offense has some limitations if we're gonna keep riding guys hitting .100.

[ShockerFever]

Wtf is going on in centerfield?

[Cdizzle]

Frustrating as it's been, it's still right there for the winning. Somebody gotta be the hero.

[Kung Wu]

Oh boy. Pleeease convert at least one run in this bases loaded situation.

[Kung Wu]

YES!!!!

[Kung Wu]

Rogers almost crossed Oliver by the time the ball got to 1st. SAFE!!