At this point, one has to wonder whether Leon Byrd is hurt or in the big time doghouse-- given he's not starting against a left-handed pitcher (and Gray has struggled mightily against southpaw pitching all year long)...

Quote:Rice Baseball ‏@RiceOwlsBSB · 20m20 minutes ago
Rice lineup for noon Game 1 of DH:
Stainback 2b
Warren rf
Taylor lf
Reeves dh
CTeykl 1b
Gray ss
Lewis 3b
Chandler cf
Kopycinski c
McCanna p

Quite honestly, I don't understand Hunter continuing to be our #9 hitter, given he's been our hottest hitter-- and only consistent hitter-- over the past 2+ weeks, particularly against a southpaw starter. Offense really needs to wake up, as it's 3-week slump has dropped it's season AVG down from .312 to 3.01, and runs per game from 6.5 down to 5.8. Remember, FIU's pitching strength is in it's bullpen, so we really need to get to their starters early; especially with a pair of 7-inning games. And if we can get an early lead, we can turn it over to Ditman (Game 1) and Orewiler (Game 2) as early as the 4th inning, if necessary.

Might not be doghouse, per se. Could be Graham has decided Lewis is a better choice as starter, more than a decision to bench Byrd. Either way, it does seem Byrd has been demoted.

(05-16-2015 11:46 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Might not be doghouse, per se. Could be Graham has decided Lewis is a better choice as starter, more than a decision to bench Byrd. Either way, it does seem Byrd has been demoted.

Without question. Lewis would get the start against the left-hander regardless...but Tristan hasn't hit at all against southpaw pitching, and it's not as if his defense has been stellar either. IMO, this really hurts our offense. I asked JP what was up, and this was his response...

Quote:J.P. Heath ‏@RiceOwlsVoice · 4m4 minutes ago
@wegreenberg Coach said before Thursday's game that right now Tristan was the best option at SS.

IMO, it's not that simple; something must be going on underneath the surface.....but that's just idle speculation.

BTW, USM enters the conference tournament (at home) riding a 13-game win streak, and with their RPI down to #47. Thank heaven they've earned the #3 seed and, consequently, will be out of our bracket...and we would not play them until a potential championship game matchup.

Good start for Kevin-- 1-2-3 inning with one strikeoutK. FIU is using their ace, RHP Mourelle, in the first game; meaning the southpaw will start Game 2.

Smack establishing! Ready for two games of offensive eruption!! Let's go, Rice!!

EDIT: Two singles and a perfect sac bunt load the tree with Owls!! Let's bring 'em all home, boys!!

EDIT: Connor Teykl gives us our first banana of the day! Single to RF, Stainback scores! 1-0 Rice, bases still loaded!!

EDIT: Gray hits a bizarre sac fly that results in a double-play, but not until Charlie Warren scores from 3rd! 2-0 Rice headed T2!!

After 1
0-0-0
2-3-0

Alright, Kevin, the pre-game prescription has been filled. You've got a 2-run lead to work with; just keep calm, throw strikes, and let your defense do the rest.

EDIT: Just like that. Three quick groundballs to 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd, and McCanna sends us to B2. Great job, Kevin. Keep it up.

It was a shallow sac fly, runner out at third.

(05-16-2015 12:23 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  It was a shallow sac fly, runner out at third.

So does that mean that the right fielder chose to give up the run and throw across the diamond to 3rd? Wouldn't the throw home have been shorter (and in the direction of his incoming momentum)? Seems like an odd choice. If he had a play at 3rd, wouldn't he mostly likely have had a play at home?

Pitcher was cutoff for the throw in, too late to relay to home, so threw to third instead.

More interestingment: FIU pulls its starting pitcher after just one inning. Maybe he was hurt? Too bad we couldn't get another inning to tee off on him. Aside from Reeves, everybody touched him pretty well in the 1st. Hmm, maybe not the best verb/description for 10am (PST). Instead, let's say that everybody stroked off that pitcher pretty well in the 1st.

Sophomore righty Cody Crause coming in. 76 innings pitched this season, .436 ERA, .260 BAA.

Feeling goodLewis!

Scoreboard now shows an error by FIU. Probably on the 1st inning bunt.

(05-16-2015 12:30 PM)13thOwl Wrote:  Feeling goodLewis!

Looking good, 13th! Base hit for Grayson to lead off T2!!

EDIT: I've got a good feeling (pun intended) we're about to find out why Kopy's hitting 9th. Lewis steals second, and I predict Hunter's gonna knock him home.

EDIT: Nope, I was wrong. Chandler and Hunter both ground out. Up to Ford now to bring home Grayson. Too bad we couldn't advance him to 3rd when he was on 2nd with no outs; groundball would've scored him.

EDIT: Stainback K's, and it's on to the 3rd we go. 2-0 Owls. Kevin wheeling, defense dealing.

Stolen base! Runner on 2nd, no outs.

End 2
0-0-1
2-4-0

(05-16-2015 12:17 PM)smackdaddy Wrote:  Smack establishing! Ready for two games of offensive eruption!! Let's go, Rice!!

EDIT: Two singles and a perfect sac bunt load the tree with Owls!! Let's bring 'em all home, boys!!

EDIT: Connor Teykl gives us our first banana of the day! Single to RF, Stainback scores! 1-0 Rice, bases still loaded!!

EDIT: Gray hits a bizarre sac fly that results in a double-play, but not until Charlie Warren scores from 3rd! 2-0 Rice headed T2!!

Another baserunning gaff?

(05-16-2015 12:35 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Stolen base! Runner on 2nd, no outs.

The ball went to the backstop. Is that still a stolen base or a WP?

(05-16-2015 12:47 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(05-16-2015 12:17 PM)smackdaddy Wrote:  Smack establishing! Ready for two games of offensive eruption!! Let's go, Rice!!

EDIT: Two singles and a perfect sac bunt load the tree with Owls!! Let's bring 'em all home, boys!!

EDIT: Connor Teykl gives us our first banana of the day! Single to RF, Stainback scores! 1-0 Rice, bases still loaded!!

EDIT: Gray hits a bizarre sac fly that results in a double-play, but not until Charlie Warren scores from 3rd! 2-0 Rice headed T2!!

Another baserunning gaff?

He was moving to third on the throw home but the ball was cut off and thrown to third. Very close play.