HOUSTON – Rice erupted for seven runs on eight hits against Missouri State in the opening inning of the two clubs' three-game series, snapping an early-season dry spell with a 12-4 victory over the Bears Friday night at Reckling Park.
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Winless over their first seven games of the 2020 season, the Owls (1-7) erased a four-run Bears rally by putting their first seven batters of the game aboard against MSU ace Logan Wiley. Trei Cruz belted a two-run homer and Rodrigo Duluc added a three-run triple to highlight an inning that saw Rice send 11 men to the plate.
Rice, which had scored just eight combined runs in its last four contests, would score 12 unanswered runs in all to remain perfect (6-0) in its all-time series with Missouri State. After entering the contest just 2-for-21 (.095) for the season, Bradley Gneiting came within a home run of hitting for the cycle, finishing his night 3-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Owls' 16-hit attack.
The lopsided finish overshadowed a promising start to the night for the Bears (4-5), who scored four times in the first to grab the early 4-0 lead. After scoring three times in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 6-3 win at ORU, MSU extended its hot stretch at the plate with another big inning to start the night. Walks to Jack Duffy and Ben Whetstone sandwiched a Grant Wood double to load the bases with nobody out against Rice starter Alex DeLeon. Dakota Kotowski followed with a liner into the gap in right-center to clear the bases for a 3-0 MSU advantage. Drake Baldwin's chopper to the right side brought in the runner from third to give the Bears a four-run lead.
But the Owls, who entered the contest hitting just .192 as a team, responded in a big way, touching up Bears starting pitcher Logan Wiley for seven runs on eight hits in the home half of the first. Cade Edwards started the Rice hit parade with a base hit to left center to start the inning, and Cruz cut the MSU lead in half with his first round-tripper of the season to right-center.
Rice wasn't done, as Austin Bulman started a string of four-consecutive singles that would plate another run. Wiley recovered to strike out Daniel Hernandez for the first out, but Dulu chased home three runs with a triple and Edwards capped the rally with his second hit of the inning—an RBI double.
The Owls added to their lead with four more runs over the ensuing two innings, scoring in the second on a triple by Gneiting, who also added a two-run double in the third. Brayden Combs delivered a two-bagger as well to drive in the 11th unanswered Rice run of the contest.
Given the comfortable lead, DeLeon (1-2) locked up the MSU offense, allowing just three baserunners—none of which advanced into scoring position—after the first inning. The right-hander scattered five hits over his 7.0 innings, allowing four runs and striking out three to earn his first victory of the season.Â
Garrett Zaskoda finished off the win, striking out two Bears over 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. Bulman and Combs added three-hit performances, while Justin Collins went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Cruz finished with three RBIs for Rice.
Wood led the Bears with a 2-for-4 night, extending his personal hit streak to nine games. Wiley (1-1), who entered the game with a 16 2/3 scoreless inning streak, suffered the loss after surrendering eight runs on nine hits in just 1 1/3 innings.
The Bears and Owls continue their series with a 2 p.m. contest Saturday, before wrapping up the weekend with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.
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