A GREAT YEAR COMES TO A SUDDEN END

by Mark Anderson

The Rice Owls bowed out of the College World Series today when a bases-loaded double off the wall scored all three runners and ended Rice's hopes to move on in Omaha.

It was a painful loss, no doubt about it. . .(more to come)

Link for pics from Rice-LSU game

http://www.chron.com/sports/photogallery/RICE_FACES_LSU_IN_COLLEGE_WORLD_SERIES.html

Here is a link to a gallery of all CWS games and action:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaabb/gallery?pg=1&cap=0

Not Exactly What Rice Had in Mind

By Mark Anderson

Well, that wasn’t exactly what Wayne Graham had in mind.

Rice faced off against Fresno State on Sunday, and the Owls simply got blindsided by Fresno State. Starting pitcher Ryan Berry had shaved his head, and hoped to shave his ERA in the College World Series from last year. Instead, he gave up nine—that’s right, Owl fans, count ‘em, nine—runs.

Two sets of threes plagued Berry. The first was three walks. But the second was more lethal—a three run home run. Overall, Owls’ pitching gave up four home runs—three of them being the three run variety.

On the bright side for the Owls, Diego Seastrunk joined in the three run home run parade by smashing one that Fresno State’s rightfielder could have stood on the wall and not been able to catch.

The scary moment for the Owls came in Adam Zornes’ last at-bat, when a pitch got way from the Fresno State hurler and caught Zornes flush on the cheek. For the Owls to lose Zornes at this stage of the season would be a devastating loss for the Feathered Flock, as Zornes is not only their leader in home runs this season, but also an anchor for them behind the plate. It will be a “wait and see” on his availability on Tuesday against either LSU or North Carolina.

Oops

More CWS pics at:
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaabb;_ylt=AmdrROu5G07LrGn5k.2jG285nYcB

Look under "latest photos at the bottom left part of the page. . . .

ON TO OMAHA!

By Mark Anderson

The Rice Owls clinched their third trip to the CWS in three years as they swept the Texas Aggies by a score of 6-5 Sunday evening.

SENIORS NIGHTS AT RECKLING
If this past weekend could be nicknamed anything, it would have to be "Seniors Nights at Reckling Park." Who will ever forget Jordan Dodson's heroics on Saturday (3-3, 4 RBIs, a stolen base, 2 runs scored)? Or what about Cole St. Clair? Four plus innings in relief to slam the door, lock it, and throw away the key for Texas A & M. And what about the resurrection of Bobby Bell? Bobby had the Ags guessing on what was coming next, making a few of them look flat-out silly to get the save in Game 2.

Of course, we can't forget the Z-Man, Adam Zornes, who hit the game-winning homer in the 8th inning last night. But it was other things that Z-Man did--like tag the runner out trying to steal home, throwing out another runner trying to steal third, and blocking numerous pitches in the dirt--that made a difference. But that home run--that thing was gone from the moment it left the bat.

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH GRAHAM, THE COACHING STAFF, AND TO THE ENTIRE 2008 OWLS! LET'S MAKE THIS TRIP TO OMAHA A TRIP TO REMEMBER!

A SUPER WIN



By Mark Anderson

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Thankfully, you and I can look at the picture and not have to hear the thousand words or so Coach Graham undoubtedly had for his Rice Owls after committing six--that's right, look at the scoreboard again, six, errors committted by Rice in a 7-4 win that moved them into the Super-Regionals against either A& M or UH. . . .

MORE TO COME TOMORROW. . . .

LOOKING LIKE RICE-UT

Kyle Russell just hit a two run homer in the seventh inning to put Texas ahead of St. John's, 4-1. Barring amajor comeback by St. John (hey, we can hope, right?), it looks like the 6 pm game will be Rice and Texas getting it on again. No official word yet on Rice's starter, but it seems it would be either Matt Langwell or Mike Ojala for Rice. . . . .See ya at the game.