Rice University | News & Media

6/8/2008

Rice earns spot at College World Series

BY MARK PASSWATERS
Special to the Rice News

Rice catcher Adam Zornes took a beating Sunday evening, but his aches and pains may have never been so satisfying. Zornes, who repeatedly blocked pitches in the dirt from struggling Owl pitchers, hit the only home run of the Super Regional series with Texas A&M – a two-run shot that gave Rice its first lead of the night and propelled them to their third consecutive trip to the College World Series.

TOMMY LAVERGNE

The Owls, who trailed the Aggies 5-2 after five innings, cut the lead to one in the sixth after freshman shortstop Rick Hague drove in the last two of his four RBI. But Rice blew a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in the seventh when A&M closer Travis Starling worked his way out of a bases loaded, one-out jam by striking out J.P. Padron and barely beating Diego Seastrunk to the bag on a sharp ground ball to Aggie first baseman Luke Anders.

Starling, who had a perfect 8-0 record before taking a loss in the regional round against Houston, dropped his second decision when he hung a knuckle curveball to Zornes after Hague reached on an infield single with one out in the top of the eighth. The ball barely cleared the left field wall, sending the Rice fans at Reckling Park into a frenzy.

For the second consecutive night, the Owl bullpen had to pick up a struggling starter, as Mike Ojala struggled with his control and received an early hook from Coach Wayne Graham after three and one-third innings and five earned runs allowed. Bryan Price got the win with two and one-third innings of one hit ball, striking out three. Junior Bobby Bell picked up the save, officially punching Rice’s ticket to Omaha by keeping the Aggies off the scoreboard in the final two innings.

The 62nd Men's College World Series begins play June 14 at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.

For more coverage, visit http://www.riceowls.com. To congratulate the Owls on a job well done, visit http://riceowls.cstv.com/chat/060608aaa.html.

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