Rice Owls dominate Tulane in 10-6 victory
Rice University’s baseball squad improved to 33-22 on the season after a 10-6 win over Tulane University on Friday night at Reckling Park in Houston, Texas, securing a series victory and guaranteeing at least a third seed in next week’s American Conference Baseball Championship.
Early offensive burst sets the tone
The Owls struck first with a four-run second inning that featured solo homers from Kutter-Gage Webb and Cole Green, while Garet Boehm drove in three runs to cap the rally. Zachary Daigre doubled the score with a timely single, pushing the lead to 5-1 before Tulane could answer.
Tulane’s late push falls short
Tulane narrowed the gap in the fourth and sixth innings, but Rice responded with two runs on sacrifice flies in the fourth and added two more in the eighth. Ty Thames battled through a jam in the fifth, allowing only one run, and later contributed two runs with sac flies as the offense surged.
Clutch closing innings
Brayden Sharp shut down the ninth inning, striking out a career‑high five batters to preserve the lead, while Paul Smith and Tom Vincent combined for solid middle relief. The bullpen’s effort capped a performance that saw Rice score in double figures for the sixth time in eight games.
Season milestones and upcoming challenges
The win marked the Owls’ sixth straight home victory and extended their home record to 19-10. With 309 runs scored this season, the team sits atop program history for runs in a single season, surpassing the 331 runs recorded in 2019. Upcoming matchups against East Carolina University and Florida Atlantic University could shift seeding, but the Owls remain focused on maintaining their momentum.