Baseball splits opening series with No. 23 Rice after 7-1 loss

Sunday, February 19

Austin, Texas

Noon

University of Texas

2-2

Rice

2-2

Rice

Texas

Baseball splits opening series with No. 23 Rice after 7-1 loss

02.19.2017 | Baseball

Box Score

Junior Bret Boswell’s first homer of the year accounted for the Longhorns’ lone run.

Box Score | Postgame Quotes

AUSTIN, Texas—In the finale of the season-opening four-game series against No. 23 Rice, Texas Baseball fell 7-1 to the Owls on Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The loss gave the Longhorns (2-2) and Owls (2-2) a split to open the 2017 campaign.

Junior right-hander Connor Mayes made his first start of the season and went five-plus innings for the Longhorns. Mayes kept the Owls off the board through the first three innings, but Dominic DiCaprio lifted a two-out run-scoring double in the fourth to put Rice on top 1-0.

Mayes came back with a scoreless fifth to keep the score steady and redshirt-junior Bret Boswell knotted up the game in the bottom half. Boswell, who hit two homers last season, launched a 2-0 pitch over the right-center field wall to even it at 1-1.

In the sixth, however, Rice put up a five-spot to put the game out of reach off a combination of Mayes, Jake McKenzie, and Nick Kennedy.

The Longhorns offense mustered up some scoring chances in the game, but were unable to put runners across the plate. Kacy Clemens once again led the way for Texas with a 2-for-4 day at the dish. The senior first baseman finished opening weekend 6-for-11 with four runs scored, three walks, three RBI and a home run.

Freshman Kevin Roliard and redshirt-sophomore Tyler Schimpf both held the Owls hitless in their relief appearances before Rice picked up a tack-on run in the ninth off Beau O'Hara.

The Longhorns next take on Sam Houston State in a Wednesday night matchup on the road. The trip will mark the Longhorns' first-ever trip to Huntsville, where David Pierce previously spent three seasons as head coach (2012-14).