HOUSTON – Abe Gonzales pitched his first career game and received plenty of run support from a Rice offense which banged out 22 hits en route to a 14-2 victory to open play at the NCAA Houston Regional Friday.

 

With the win, Rice (42-19) advances to Saturday's winner's bracket game against Baylor. The Bears defeated California 6-4 earlier Friday. First pitch for Saturday's winner's bracket game is set for 6 p.m. Alcorn State (27-28) will take on Cal in an elimination game Saturday afternoon at 2.

 

Gonzales' previous career pitching long was 6 2/3 innings, but in his sixth start of the year, scattered seven hits and struck out four. He improved to 8-2 on the year.

 

Every Rice starter had at least one hit. Left fielder Ryan Lewis led the Owls' offensive effort with a 4-for-6, three-RBI night. Lewis' two-run single down the right field line in the third inning gave the Owls a 4-1 lead.

 

Rice added four runs in the fifth to extend its lead to 8-1. Highlighting the frame was a two-run double to the left field wall by second baseman Michael Ratterree. Ratterree went 3-for-6 on the night and scored two runs.

 

A total of eight Rice starters had multi-hit games. Centerfielder Michael Fuda was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBI while third baseman Shane Hoelscher was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

 

With the Owls leading 9-1 in the top of the seventh, Eduardo Gonzalez sent Gonzales' first offering of the inning over the left field fence. After the homer, Gonzales would retire nine of Alcorn State's final 10 batters to pick up the complete-game victory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alcorn State 0 0 1   0 0 0   1 0 0 –    2   7 3

Rice                0 2 2   0 4 1   2 3 x – 14 22 0