Rice edges La. Tech to even series

HOUSTON – Louisiana Tech had its chances on Saturday afternoon, but it was Rice which ultimately came away with a narrow, 3-2, extra innings victory at Reckling Park.

Rice scored first in the bottom of the third on an RBI single from Dominic DiCaprio and added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double from Ford Proctor.

For the Bulldogs, it took until the sixth inning to record their first hit, but when they did, it led to run production.

Jordan Washam opened the sixth with a single to center field and eventually moved to second a one-out single from Chase Lunceford. With runners on the corners, Marshall Boggs snuck one past the third baseman for an RBI double. That cut the Louisiana Tech deficit to 2-1.

In the top of the seventh, Dalton Skelton led off with a single just over the head of the Rice first baseman, Darryn Sheppard. After Jordan Washam moved him into scoring position, Brent Diaz came through to tie with an RBI single to left.

Cameron Linck got the start of Louisiana Tech and got the job done in front of his hometown crowd. The right-hander went five innings and allowed just two runs.

Zack Hamilton came on in the sixth inning and pitched 4 2-3 innings in relief and allowed just one hit over the first four innings to get the game into extra innings.

Rice ended up winning on an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

All-American Glenn Otto pitched 4 2-3 innings in relief for Rice, earning the win, giving up just one earned run over that stretch.

The series finale between Louisiana Tech and Rice is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.