May 26, 2007

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GREENVILLE, N.C. - Rice scored 20 runs and totaled 20 hits en route to eliminating Memphis, 20-9, in the second semifinal game of the 2007 C-USA Baseball Championship at Clark-LeClair Stadium on the campus of East Carolina University. With the win, the Owls advance to face host and second-seeded East Carolina for the C-USA Championship on Sunday.

Rice (48-12) jumped ahead early scoring three runs in the top of first. Chad Lembeck walked with one out and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jess Buenger was also walked and both runners scored on Aaron Luna's triple to right field for the early 2-0 lead. Starter Neil Schenk then tossed another wild pitch to score Luna.

Memphis (36-25) answered right back, to cut the lead to one, 3-2 after one inning. Michael Murray doubled to right field with one out and then Bill Moss walked. Murray then went to third on a fielders choice and later scored on Kyle Norrid's single. Josh Irvin was next up and doubled home Norrid for the second score in the frame.

The Owls then pulled away scoring 10 runs in innings two through six to build 13-3 lead. In that stretch the Owls banged out 11 hits and hit two home runs, one being a grand slam by Luna.

Facing the threat of a run-rule loss, the Tigers rallied for three in the bottom of the sixth and then added one in the seventh and two in the eighth to cut the Rice lead to 13-9.

Rice squashed any hope of a Tiger comeback in the ninth, scoring seven runs in the top of the frame, two of them coming on Buenger's second home run of the game.

Buenger finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI and five runs scored, which matched the championship record. Luna led all players with seven RBI, which also tied a championship record and hit 4-for-6. The sophomore also had two long balls. Tyler Henley also had a strong afternoon, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

The 29 runs scored tied the championship record for combined runs in a game. Houston and Charlotte set the record in the 1997 championship game, when the Cougars won, 22-7.

C-USA Player of the Year Joe Savery was credited with the win for the Owls, improving to 9-1 on the season. Savery went 5.2 innings, scattering nine hits and striking out three.

Neil Schenk took the loss, lasting only 2.2 innings, while giving up six runs and six hits. The Tigers used six pitchers in the contest.