Ojala helps Owls kick off regionals with 5-2 win
Hall, Meghan
Issue date: 5/15/09 Section: Sports
In the first inning of Friday's College World Series regionals at Rice University, Sam Houston State University started off with a bang on second-hole hitter Ryan Mooney's home run off Rice starter, junior Mike Ojala.
But for the Bearkats, there wouldn't be many more fireworks in Rice's 5-2 win.
The Owls, coming off of a Conference USA tournament champion, took on the Bearkats in both teams' first game of the 2009 NCAA Houston Regional. Rice (40-15), while ranked sixth by Baseball America in its latest poll, did not receive one of the eight NCAA national seeds. However, the Owls are the host of the Houston regional and therefore have the first seed in this weekend's double-elimination tournament. Sam Houston State (36-23), winner of its third consecutive Southland Conference title, is the fourth seed.
Freshman third baseman Anthony Rendon, a national semifinalist for the 2009 Dick Howser Trophy as the best college player, picked up the first hit of the game for the Owls in the bottom of the second.
"The freshman third baseman is unbelievable, very comfortable for a freshman," Sam Houston State head coach Mark Johnson said. "The game doesn't speed up on him at all … you don't see it very often."
Rendon advanced to third on sophomore right fielder Chad Mozingo's single and scored the first run after a hit by sophomore left fielder Michael Fuda, who has raised his average to third-highest on the team.
Mozingo finished with a team-high three hits despite a broken bone in his right hand that's currently being protected by a pad and a wrap.
"I felt it coming on for about a week," Mozingo said. "Then one swing and it fractured."
Rice was down for fewer than two innings, when they took the lead for good.
"It lifts everyone up when you bring the bats," Coach Wayne Graham said. "We're very happy to get out with a win. [It was] a very courageous performance for these guys."
Junior second baseman Brock Holt had a sparkling double play in the top of the third, only one in a string of solid defensive plays by the Owls. He then singled in the bottom of the frame, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored after sophomore shortstop Rick Hague's single to break the tie.
But for the Bearkats, there wouldn't be many more fireworks in Rice's 5-2 win.
The Owls, coming off of a Conference USA tournament champion, took on the Bearkats in both teams' first game of the 2009 NCAA Houston Regional. Rice (40-15), while ranked sixth by Baseball America in its latest poll, did not receive one of the eight NCAA national seeds. However, the Owls are the host of the Houston regional and therefore have the first seed in this weekend's double-elimination tournament. Sam Houston State (36-23), winner of its third consecutive Southland Conference title, is the fourth seed.
Freshman third baseman Anthony Rendon, a national semifinalist for the 2009 Dick Howser Trophy as the best college player, picked up the first hit of the game for the Owls in the bottom of the second.
"The freshman third baseman is unbelievable, very comfortable for a freshman," Sam Houston State head coach Mark Johnson said. "The game doesn't speed up on him at all … you don't see it very often."
Rendon advanced to third on sophomore right fielder Chad Mozingo's single and scored the first run after a hit by sophomore left fielder Michael Fuda, who has raised his average to third-highest on the team.
Mozingo finished with a team-high three hits despite a broken bone in his right hand that's currently being protected by a pad and a wrap.
"I felt it coming on for about a week," Mozingo said. "Then one swing and it fractured."
Rice was down for fewer than two innings, when they took the lead for good.
"It lifts everyone up when you bring the bats," Coach Wayne Graham said. "We're very happy to get out with a win. [It was] a very courageous performance for these guys."
Junior second baseman Brock Holt had a sparkling double play in the top of the third, only one in a string of solid defensive plays by the Owls. He then singled in the bottom of the frame, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored after sophomore shortstop Rick Hague's single to break the tie.
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