April 15, 2006

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -

2 Rice (31-8; 10-1 C-USA)   0(12)3 032 2 - 22 27 0
Memphis (21-15; 6-5 C-USA)  0 0  1 300 2 -  6 11 1

The second-ranked Rice Owls sent 16 batters to the plate and exploded for 12 runs on 12 hits in the second inning to cruise to a 22-6 route of Memphis Saturday afternoon at Nat Buring Stadium.

The Owls knocked a school-record 11 doubles in the game, including four two-baggers from shortstop Brian Friday. Friday hit two doubles in the second inning and finished the day 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored. Friday's two doubles were joined by three other Rice doubles, but the highlight of the frame was back-to-back home runs from Adam Zornes and Aaron Luna.

Rice scored three more runs in the third to go up 15-0 before the Tigers notched their first run of the game on an RBI-single from K.K. Chalmers, who went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI.

Adam Amar posted one of his two run-scoring hits in a three-run fourth. The junior launched his sixth home run of the year over the right centerfield wall to make it 15-2. Alex Fennell and Chalmers teamed up to drive Memphis' next two runs.

Rice scored three in the fifth, two in the sixth and seventh for a 22-4 cushion.

Consecutive singles from Kyle Norrid and Amar brought Chalmers and Will Petersen home, respectively, before the game was called in the seventh. Norrid extended his hit streak to 13 games with the single in his final at-bat of the game.

Amar and Chalmers were the lone Tiger hitters to record multiple hits inteh game.

Rice starter Bobby Bell picked up the win. He struck out seven in five innings of work. Philip Utley was the losing hurler for Memphis after giving up eight runs on eight hits in an inning-and-a-third.

Memphis will try to salvage a game in the series on Sunday. First pitch is set for Noon at Nat Buring Stadium.