Aside from that memorable June 2003 weekend in Omaha, Rice has never won a weekend series against Stanford, despite playing them almost annually over the past 15+ years. Sadly, we've only won a handful of games over that timeframe. As always the Cardinal are not short of talent (they've had a Top 10 recruiting class for 4 consecutive seasons); however, they lost a ton from their 2022 and 2023 Omaha squads and are heavily reliant on highly regarded Freshmen. Given their early struggles so far this season, couple with our solid weekend pitching, if ever we're going to break the series losing skid to Stanford it would be this year. To do so the offense needs to get out of it's prolonged slump and start focusing on making better contact.

(03-01-2024 05:41 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  however, they lost a ton from their 2002 and 2003 Omaha squads and are heavily reliant on highly regarded Freshmen.

I imagine they've lost just about everyone from their 2002 and 2003 squads. Just kidding, I'm sure it's a typo and you meant 2022 and 2023. I do the same thing frequently.

(03-01-2024 06:08 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 05:41 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  however, they lost a ton from their 2002 and 2003 Omaha squads and are heavily reliant on highly regarded Freshmen.

I imagine they've lost just about everyone from their 2002 and 2003 squads. Just kidding, I'm sure it's a typo and you meant 2022 and 2023. I do the same thing frequently.

Yes, just corrected it. Thanks.

Stanford scores first. 2 out RF HR. Just fair.
1-0 Cardinal

(03-01-2024 05:41 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Aside from that memorable June 2003 weekend in Omaha, Rice has never won a weekend series against Stanford, despite playing them almost annually over the past 15+ years. Sadly, we've only won a handful of games over that timeframe. As always the Cardinal are not short of talent (they've had a Top 10 recruiting class for 4 consecutive seasons); however, they lost a ton from their 2022 and 2023 Omaha squads and are heavily reliant on highly regarded Freshmen. Given their early struggles so far this season, couple with our solid weekend pitching, if ever we're going to break the series losing skid to Stanford it would be this year. To do so the offense needs to get out of it's prolonged slump and start focusing on making better contact.

We won a series at Reckling against them in 2013 and split 4 in 2015. And won one in Palo Alto in 2014. We also started playing them in 2010, so they missed our truly elite teams (other than in Omaha).

Trouble in 2nd. Single, WP, walk and single (advanced on throw) drives in another run. Stanford on 2nd and 3rd with no out, and one run in. Game about to get away from us. Now 2-0, but a single can make it 4-0 quickly.

Strikeout, but a smoked single brings in another. 1st and 3rd, one out, and now 3-0. That may be enough.

Parker getting barreled up, unusually.

Nice play by Royo and Garza, as they try to steal to draw the throw (which we do) but Royo cuts down the runner at home. So now two outs with a Cardinal on 2b.

Groundout to 1b gets us out of the inning. Now 3-0 but could have been much worse. Royo really made a nice play to get the runner at the plate. Put the throw right on the money while running to his left to handle Manny’s throw down

Three up three down in the bottom of the 2nd, with the 4th K through two innings.

Parker steadies the ship, gets the Cardinal three up three down with a K

Sadly it looks like we’re back to taking the first pitch fastball down the middle for strike one.

Our batters continue to take the first strike. Every single batter. And two of our 5 strikeouts now and counting the batter took the first two strikes. Why? Who's coaching this team?

Three up three down with the 5th K. That 3 runs likely will be enough at this rate.

Get Rant out of the leadoff spot. He's hitting .133 with 10 Ks. Tonight he has taken the first two strikes in both ABs. Pathetic approach to hitting.

Max Johnson now 0-13 to start the season.

Stanford with lead off single, and then perfectly executed bunt moves Cardinal over to 2b with one out. Long fly out to deep CF, but McDonald gets it back in quickly to keep the runner on 2b. Nice play by Reidel ends the inning

(03-01-2024 08:32 PM)Swede Owl Wrote:  Stanford with lead off single, and then perfectly executed bunt moves Cardinal over to 2b with one out. Long fly out to deep CF, but McDonald gets it back in quickly to keep the runner on 2b. Nice play by Reidel ends the inning

We're the only team in D1 that can't bunt, but some people keep the excuses coming.

Macdonald watches strike 3 for the 6th strikeout to lead off the bottom of the 4th inning. Reidel the only Owl swinging the bat well tonight, but nothing to show for it, with a great play from the CF in the 1st, and now the 3B in the 4th. Becker goes down swinging for the 7th K. Three up three down again.

7 strikeouts and no hits through 4 innings against a true Freshman pitcher who had been roughed up in his two previous starts.

Trouble brewing again in the top of the 5th. Cardinals on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Intentional walk to load the bases. Deep fly out to RF scores another, not that it matters. Groundout to 2b ends the inning. Now 4-0 going into bottom of the 5th

(03-01-2024 08:48 PM)Swede Owl Wrote:  Trouble brewing again in the top of the 5th. Cardinals on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Intentional walk to load the bases. Deep fly out to RF scores another, not that it matters.

Amazing what can happen if you just focus on putting the ball in play when you have runners in scoring position with less than two outs.

Garza swings on the first pitch fastball and makes good contact, but lines out to CF. Gallo goes down looking for the 8th K. Dukes works a 4 pitch walk. Only the second Owl on base tonight (both walks). Nearly a WP on the first pitch to Royo, and the catcher goes out for a conference (only at 76 pitches). Royo watches strike 3 for 9Ks only through 5 innings. Amazing