Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Rice*
Bulldogs Fall to No. 2 Rice, 9-4
5/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 21, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - Philip Humber struck out 11 over six innings of work as No. 2 Rice defeated Fresno State 9-4 in the series opener Friday night at Beiden Field. Humber (12-3) yielded four runs on nine hits and three walks over six innings to earn his 12th win of the year.
The conference champion Owls improved to 40-9 overall and 21-3 in the WAC while the Bulldogs slipped to 24-29 on the year and 12-12 in conference play.
Josh Baker struck out two in three scoreless innings of relief to tally his fourth save of the season.
Owls catcher Adam Rodgers gave the club a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first inning. Run scoring hits by Clay Reichenbach, Chris Kolkhorst and Paul Janish in the second inning extended Rice's lead to 5-0. Kolkhorst was 4-5 with a double and two RBI to pace the Owls' 12-hit attack.
Bulldog freshman infielder Christian Vitters led off the home half of the second with his sixth home run of the season and senior infielder Chris Patrick swatted his fourth round tripper of the year to start the fourth, trimming the deficit to 5-2. After an RBI single by Paul Janish in the fourth gave Rice a four-run lead, Bulldog senior infielder Ryan Haag cut the lead in half in the sixth with a two-run blast over the right field fence. The homer was Haag's career high fourth of the season.
Rice gave itself some breathing room with three runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Matt Ueckert, Adam Hale and Kolkhorst.
Fresno State sophomore outfielder Richie Robnett had his 26-game hitting streak snapped going 0-4 on the night.
Fresno State starter Matt Garza (5-3) suffered the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits and three walks over six innings but struck out a career high tying seven for the fourth time in his last five starts.
The series continues Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Rice righthander Wade Townsend (10-0, 1.55) is scheduled to oppose Fresno State freshman southpaw Brandon Miller (5-3, 4.99).
No. 2 Rice 230 100 300 - 9 12 0Fresno State 011 002 000 - 4 10 1Garza, Scott (7), Romero (7), Griffin (7), and Pierce and Lievanos (9); Humber, Baker (7), and Rodgers. W- Humber (12-3). L- Garza (5-3). S- Baker (4). Hrs: FS: Vitters (6), Patrick (4), Haag (4); RICE: Rodgers (6). T: 2:44. A: 2087.
