C-USA CHAMPS!

Rice Jumps Over UH in Final Game to Claim Crown
By Mark Anderson

The Rice Owls, trailing the Univerisity of Houston Cougars by a score of 5-1, played a game of leapfrog as the number one ranked Owls overcame and early deficit to win big, 11-5.

The game changing moment came when Joe Savery stepped to the plate with the score 5-4. Savery, who had his share of struggles on the hill today, got exactly what he was looking for--a changeup--and drilled it high and deep into a very stiff wind. As the ball left the bat, SAvery leaped with a finger in the air--he knew immediately, wind or no wind, that he had homered to put the Owls up by a score of 6-5.

Savery, normally a very reserved person, reacted as he had in no other at bat this entire year. I asked Joe afterwards if he had ever in any game hit a home run and jumped as he did today. "No, not ever," Joe said, "but I knew that was gone."

Savery's game changing moment was set up by a rally in the fourth inning. Rodriguez led off the inning with a booming double to right centerfield. Joe Savery followed with a walk, and Luna singled, loading the bases. That brought up Jordan Dodson, who admitted afterwards he had been struggling a bit. Not on this at bat though--he crushed it to roght for a double, scoring Rodriguez and Savery. That brought in Hancock to face Lehmann, who reached on a throwing error, scoring Luna. That rally brought the Owls back from a 5-1 deficit to within a run.

In the fifth, the game changed in the Owls facor when Buchanan reached with one out . That brought Savery to the plate. Savery who had a hand in all the runs scored to this point, changed the momentum with one swing of the bat.

That put the game in the hands of Will McDaniel, who had replaced Savery on the mound. McDaniel was nothing short of outstanding. McDaniel had come on in the fourth in relief of Savery, and his pitching (3 1/3, 1 hit, no runs) gave the Owls the chance they needed to climb back into it.

In the sixth, the Owls stretched their lead when Zornes opened witha single to right and moved to second on JOrdon Dodson's infield single. Lehmann walked to load the bsdrd and bring up Tyler Henley. Henley's sharp single scored Zornes and Dodson, and moved Lehmann to third. Friday's single added another run. After Buchanan struck out, J-Rod stepped up and lined a single to plate yet another run. Although Savery struck out and Luna flied out, the Owls had added four more runs and they would never look back on this day.

Cole St. Clair came in to pitch with two outs in the seventh, and he was also brilliant, giving up no hits and no runs to shut the door for the Owls. Rice will host a regional next weekend, beginning Friday.