Feb. 25, 2005

Final Stats

Houston, Texas - The seventh-ranked Rice Owls used a six-run fifth inning to hand Western Carolina a 9-1 setback in the opening game of the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational Tournament at Reckling Park Friday evening.

The Owls (9-1) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The game's first batter, Tyler Henley, was hit by a pitch from WCU starter Caleb McConnell. Brian Friday followed with a single and Lance Pendleton walked to load the bases. Adam Rodgers plated Henley with a sacrifice fly to left field and Joe Savery drove in Friday with a single to center.

The Catamounts (2-2) cut their deficit to one in the bottom of the third. Tim Hallam delivered a one-out single to center and scored two batters later on an RBI double by All-America candidate Jared Greenwood.

The teams went down quietly in the fourth before Rice exploded for six runs on seven hits in the top of the fifth. Adam Morris and Henley started the frame with singles and Friday followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Pendleton grounded out to second to bring home Morris, chasing McConnell in favor of relief pitcher Luke Miller. Rodger and Savery each followed with RBI singles. Danny Lehman kept the inning going with an RBI single, followed by a two-run single by Adam Hale.

Rice tacked on a the final run of the game in the top of the sixth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Savery, who also walked to drive in Henley and cap the scoring.

In addition to 3-for-3 with three RBI, Savery was the winning pitcher, improving to 2-0 on the season. He pitched 7.0 innings, allowing four hits and one run with a walk and six strikeouts. Friday led the Owls offensive attack, getting four of his team's 13 hits.

Hallam and Greenwood each had two hits, while Brandon Zolman came off the bench to account for Western's other safety. McConnell (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing five hits and five runs in 4.1 innings with two walks and a strikeout.

The Catamounts will remain in Houston to face New Mexico on Saturday. First pitch is set for 4:30 pm (CT). Western will wrap up the three-day event on Sunday with a Noon (CT) contest versus 27th-ranked Nebraska.