Top-ranked Rice Too Much for K-State, 13-0
Feb 15, 2004 | Baseball
Houston, Texas - Rice pitchers Matt Euckert and Eddie Degerman held Kansas State to just three hits as the top-ranked Owls shut-out the Wildcats, 13-0, Sunday in the Minute Maid College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
Rice pounded out 14 hits and scored five runs in both the first and third innings to quickly take a 10-run lead.
In the bottom of the first, starter Nick Ponomarenko (0-1) walked four batters before giving up a grand slam to Adam Morris as the Owls jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead with just one hit. Junior Jared Knaub came in to relieve Ponomarenko and get the final two outs of the inning.
The Wildcats (1-2) threatened to cut into the lead in the second, but left runners on second and third as Eli Rumler and Ryan Saltzgaber each struck out swinging.
The Owls (2-1) put the game away in the third inning with five more runs, highlighted by two Wildcat errors and a two-run homer by shortstop Paul Janish to give the Owls a 10-0 lead after three innings. Rice then added three more runs, one off of reliever Josh Batilla and two off of Chris Huseman to up the margin to 13-0.
The Wildcats used seven different pitchers with Sean Danielson and Matt Petersen being the most effective. The two threw the final two innings and gave up no runs on just one hit.
Chris Carlson, Jason Long and Josh Heinrich provided the only three hits of the day for the Wildcats as Kansas State was shutout for the first time this season. The Wildcats were last shut-out on May 6, 2003, against Wichita State.
Catcher Josh Heinrich was named to the all-tournament team as the senior went 4-for-9 at the plate to lead all catchers and was 2-for-2 in stolen bases.
Kansas State is scheduled to play Western Illinois in a three-game series at Tointon Family Stadium next weekend. The status of the upcoming series will be determined by Tuesday.
KSU
