March 14, 1999
SAN DIEGO - The Rice Owls captured game two of their three-game WAC series with San Diego State, defeating the Aztecs by a score of 9-7 at Tony Gwynn Stadium Saturday night. Thewin improved Rice's season record to 21-5 (4-1 WAC) while dropping SDSU to 14-11 (4-1 WAC).
Rice got on the board first on a two-run homer by All-American Damon Thames in the first inning. However, the Owls got generous in the fifth, giving the Aztecs five runs on five errors in the inning.
Rice took a 6-5 lead with four runs in the sixth, only to have SDSU regain command with a pair of runs in the bottom of that frame. Rice took the lead for good on a two-run homer by Jason Gray in the eighth that put them up 8-7, and the Owls added an insurance run in the ninth off reliever Jeff Dufek.
Ben Nelson (0-2) took the loss in relief while Rice's Kenny Baugh picked up his third win of the season. Catcher Brandon Rogers was the only Aztec with more than one hit as he contributed a pair of singles and scored twice. Outfielder Paul Lockhart tallied three RBIs.
The loss dropped SDSU into a tie for third in the conference, a game behind San Jose State (5-0) and a half-game behind Texas Christian (5-1). The Owls and Aztecs meet in the rubber game of the series on Sunday, March 14, at 2:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Rice 200 004 021 - 9 10 5SDSU 000 052 000 - 7 7 2
Gwyn, Baugh (6) and Curry
Caron, Mendoza (6), Nelson (6), Garber (8), Dufek (8) and Rogers
HR - Rice: Thames (1st-one on), Smith (6th - one on), Gray (8th-one on)
W - Baugh (3-2)
L - Nelson (0-2)
Sv - None
Time: 3:03
Att: 425