"Why Does Rice Play Texas?"

Of course this quote from John F. Kennedy, comparing that to questions about our goal of landing on the moon, is from 1962. However, that futility still seemed to still ring true Tuesday night as the #9 Longhorn baseball team took care of the #8 Rice Owls 6-4.

Starter Austin Wood turned in a solid start for the Horns going 5.2 innings, giving up 3 hits and 2 runs (none of the runs were earned). Pat McCroy, Joseph Krebs and Randy Boone pitched the rest of the way, only giving up 3 hits and 2 unearned runs. Rice starter Chris Kelley only went 4.0 innings and gave up 3 earned runs on 5 hits.

Down 2-1 in the 5th, Texas hitters broke out with 4 runs over the next 2 innings. In the bottom of the 5th, Chance Wheeless doubled home Travis Tucker and Wheeless was brought in on a sacrifice fly by Russell Moldenhauer. Tucker scored again in the 6th, along with Nick Peoples to put Texas up for good. The Horns also received solo home runs from Kyle Russell and Moldenhauer.

Joe Savery led the way for the Owls with a 2-4 night and 1 run scored. Rice led Texas 2-1 going into the bottom of the 5th, but Texas put up 2 runs in the inning. After the Horns were up 5-2, Rice put up a 2 run 7th to get the score to 5-4. But that is as close as Rice would get as Texas put up a run in the bottom of the inning, putting an end to the Owl threat.

The win was Texas' 10th in their last 11 and pushes the Longhorns overall record to 23-8. The loss dropped the Owls to 19-10. Kyle Russell's home run was his 16th of the season. Texas has a huge series, this weekend with the #17 Oklahoma Sooners who are 2-1 in Big 12 play.