Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Rice*
No. 4 Rice Sweeps Bulldogs
3/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 28, 2004
HOUSTON, Texas - Wade Townsend struck out a career high tying 12 batters and scattered two runs on six hits over 8 2/3 innings to lift No. 4 Rice to a 7-2 win over Fresno State Sunday at Reckling Park. The win completed a series sweep for the Owls.
The Bulldogs lost their season high tying fifth in a row to fall to 12-19 overall and 0-3 in the WAC while the Owls improved to 20-6 on the year including 8-1 in conference play.
Townsend's double digit strikeout total marked the ninth time in his career he has accomplished the feat including the third time this year. In addition, it was the seventh straight game the Rice pitching staff had turned in a double digit strikeout performance and the 17th time this season.
Bulldog freshman outfielder Nick Moresi gave the team a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when he stole third and came around to score when Rice third baseman Clay Reichenbach mishandled the throw. Senior infielder Chris Patrick delivered a two-out run scoring single in the sixth, extending Fresno State's lead to 2-0. Patrick also doubled to tally his tenth multi-hit game of the season.
Rice tied the game in the home half of the inning on a run scoring fielder's choice ground out by Adam Rodgers and a RBI single by outfielder Austin Davis. In the seventh, Owls' infielder Paul Janish belted his first career grand slam off Fresno State sophomore righty Toby Girazian to give the club its first lead of the game. Janish was 2-3 with four RBI and a run scored on the afternoon. Girazian (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on one hit and two walks while striking out a career high tying three batters.
Fresno State returns home for a three-game series against conference rival Louisiana Tech next weekend. First home on Friday at Saturday is 6:30 p.m. with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.
Fresno State 100 001 000 - 2 6 1No. 4 Rice 000 002 41x - 7 9 2Griffin, Girazian (6), Ball (8), Romero (8), and Pierce; Townsend, Hale (9), and Reagan. W- Townsend (5-0). L- Girazian (1-1). S- None. Hrs: FS: None; Rice: Janish (5). T: 2:40. A: 3093.
