LSUsports.net profiles NCAA Houston Regional winner Rice of Conference USA as the Owls travel to Alex Box Stadium for this weekend’s NCAA Super Regional.
Overall Record: 43-16
Conference USA Record (Finish): 16-8 (Second)
Conference USA Tournament Record (Finish): 4-0 (Champion)
NCAA Houston Regional: 4-1 (Kansas State, Xavier and Sam Houston State)
Rankings: No. 6 (Baseball America); No. 7 (Collegiate Baseball)
NCAA Super Regional Appearances: 9 (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
College World Series Appearances: 7 (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Head Coach: Wayne Graham (Texas, 1970)
Year at School: 18th
Assistant Coaches: David Pierce, Mike Taylor and Patrick Hallmark
Last Appearance in Baton Rouge: 2005 (3-0 at NCAA Regional)
Projected Starters:
Jr. RH Mike Ojala (5-0, 1.73 ERA, 68 SO, 62.1 IP)
Jr. RH Ryan Berry (7-1, 2.00 ERA, 62 SO, 76.2 IP)
Fr. LH Taylor Wall (7-5, 3.45 ERA, 77 SO, 94.0 IP)
Other Notable Pitchers
Sr. RH Jared Rogers (8-3, 4.42 ERA, 7 SV, 52 SO, 53.0 IP)
So. LH Matt Evers (3-1, 6.60 ERA, 3 SV, 33 SO, 45.0 IP)
Top Position Players:
Fr. 3B Anthony Rendon (.384 AVG, 19 HR, 70 RBI)
Jr. 2B Brock Holt (.346 AVG, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 11 SB)
So. SS Rick Hague (.324 AVG, 9 HR, 57 RBI, 11 SB)
So. OF Chad Mozingo (.324 AVG, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 10 SB)
Jr. C Diego Seastrunk (.289 AVG, 6 HR, 44 RBI)
Notables:
LSU and Rice will meet for the sixth time in NCAA Postseason play ... The two squads met during last season’s College World Series in an elimination game ... Down 5-2 entering the ninth inning, the Tigers erupted for four runs highlighted by a Blake Dean three-run double ... Rice will be making its third appearance in Baton Rouge ... The Owls won the 2005 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional ... This season, Rice came from the loser's bracket to defeat Xavier (12-5) and Kansas State twice (8-0 & 13-4) to win the NCAA Houston Regional ... Freshman third baseman Anthony Rendon became the first player in Conference USA history to be named the league’s Player and Freshman of the Year in the same season ... Rendon also is a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award ... Six additional Owls earned All-Conference USA highlighted by junior pitcher Ryan Berry on the first team ... Sophomore shortstop Rick Hague, sophomore outfielder Chad Mozingo, junior pitcher Mike Ojala and senior pitcher Jordan Rogers were on the league’s second team.
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