April 11, 2007
Box Score
BEAUMONT - Junior Collin DeLome went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, but No. 5-ranked Rice University pounded out 19 hits en route to a 13-4 win over Lamar University Wednesday night in non-conference baseball action at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
Lamar dropped to 22-15 overall and Rice improved to 27-10. The Cardinals return to the road and Southland Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Sam Houston State. The scheduled game times are Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Rice started the scoring with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first inning. Tyler Henley singled with two outs. Joe Savery reached on an error by Collin DeLome in center field, which allowed Henley to score. Jordan Dodson doubled to right center field to drive in Savery and give Rice a 2-0 lead.
The Owls struck for six runs in the top of the second inning. Jess Buenger led off the inning with a double and Adam Zornes delivered an RBI single. Brian Friday, who was 3-for-5, singled and Jared Gayhart walked to load the bases. Savery, who was 2-for-6, cleared the bases with an opposite field grand slam home run to left center field.
Dodson and Aaron Luna both singled, and Buenger was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Diego Seastrunk drew a bases loaded walk to drive in Dodson and give Rice an 8-0 lead.
Lamar got on the board in the home half of the second inning. Jeff Vickers walked and Dan Hernandez, who was 2-for-3, singled down the left field line. Dodson misplayed the ball, allowing Vickers to score. The Cardinals added another run in the third inning. DeLome reached on a fielder's choice and scored on David Moore's RBI single to center field.
Rice added three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Dodson, who was 2-for-5 with two runs scored, walked and scored on Luna's double. Buenger, who was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, followed with an RBI single and Gayhart closed out the inning with an RBI single to put the Owls up 11-2.
Lamar scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning. DeLome tripled to left center field and scored on a wild pitch by reliever Mike Ojala. Tylor Prudhomme walked, moved to second on the wild pitch and scored on Jeff Vickers' double to left field to make the score 11-4.
Buenger walked with one out in the top of the eighth inning and J.P. Padron followed with a 2-run home run to right center field to extend Rice's lead to 13-4.
Brian Needham (4-2) started and took the loss for Lamar. He allowed two unearned runs on two hits in one inning pitched. Rice starter Chris Kelley (1-2) picked up his first win of the season, allowing two runs, one earned, on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
