Feb. 27, 2005

Final Stats

Houston, Texas - After using a six-run fifth inning to defeat Western Carolina on Friday, the seventh-ranked Rice Owls had a five-run fifth to hand the Catamounts an 8-4 setback Sunday night at the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational Tournament at Reckling Park. Rice improves to 10-2 on the year, while Western falls to 3-3.

The Catamounts jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, tallying single runs in each of the first two innings. With one out in the first, Chris Davis singled, moved to second on a Jared Greenwood single and scored on an RBI single by Blake Murphy. In the second, Barrett Shaft had a leadoff single. Three batters later, Shaft was on third and scored on an RBI single by Davis.

The Owls cut their deficit to one (2-1) with a solo home run by Adam Morris. The Catamounts got that run back in the fourth, making the score 3-1 off new Rice pitcher Eddie Degerman. Shaft had a leadoff double and would score thanks to an RBI double by Davis.

Rice then exploded for five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth. After a leadoff single by Adam Rodgers, Joe Savery followed with an RBI double. Danny Lehman followed suit with an RBI double of his own, chasing WCU starting pitcher Jon Kibler (0-2). Derek Myers welcomed junior pitcher Jeremy Ellenburg with a single, putting Lehman on third. Myers then stole second to put runners on second and third, setting up an RBI single by Lance Pendleton. Lydon Duplessis laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring Myers. One batter later and after reaching on a fielder's choice, Tyler Henley stole second, but the throw to second was wild, allowing Pendleton to score on the play.

Western tried to duplicate its feat from earlier in the day, mounting a ninth-inning rally. With one out in the ninth, Davis reached on a fielder's choice and advance to second when Greenwood was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Davis scored from second on a wild pitch and Greenwood advanced to third. However, WCU's rally would come up short with a strikeout to end the contest.

For the Cats, Davis was 3-for-5 with two RBI in game two, going 8-for-12 with six RBI during Sunday's two games. Shaft also had three hits versus Rice (3-for-5). Kibler suffered the loss, pitching 4.0-plus innings, allowing 10 hits, six runs and one walk with three strikeouts. Ellenburg pitched 2.0 innings, allowing two hits, two runs (one earned) and a walk with three strikeouts.

A pair of Catamounts pitched the seventh and eighth innings, seeing their first action of the season. Junior college transfer Mike Buda had a walk and a strikeout. Brandon McDowell, seeing his first action since Feb. 15 of last year due to surgery on his throwing arm, retired all three batters he faced, including a strikeout.

Rice was led by Savery (3-for-4 with three RBI), while Henley and Morris each had two hits. Owl starter Matt Ueckert only lasted 3.0 innings, surrendering seven hits and two runs. Despite giving up a run in the fourth, Degerman (1-0) picked up the win, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing three hits, one run and one walk with three strikeouts.

Western Carolina will stay on the road to play at UNC Asheville on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm at Greenwood Field on the campus of UNCA. The Catamounts will then head to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to play in a three-day tournament, hosted by Coastal Carolina.