April 10, 2001

Box Score

Waco, Texas - No. 5 Rice defeated Baylor for the third time in as many tries Tuesday night, winning 5-1 at Baylor Ballpark.

The Owls (31-9) got an outstanding start from Steven Herce (3-0), who kept the Bears' bats quiet, allowing just three hits in six innings of work.

Baylor (27-11) starter Jared Theodorakos (5-3) didn't fare as well. The sophomore got knocked out after four innings, allowing two earned runs.

That was enough for Rice, which got on the board first when Jesse Roman hit into a double play, scoring Hunter Brown. Phillip Ghutzman's fourth inning homer off Theodorakos over the left field wall gave the Owls a 2-0 lead.

The Bears' defense wasn't up to par either, three Baylor errors resulted in two unearned runs when Kyle Edens pitched the sixth.

Baylor catcher Kelly Shoppach had his 28-game hitting streak snapped, going zero-for-four and striking out twice.

A bright spot for the Bears was the bullpen. Paul Thorp, Edens, Zane Carlson and Derek Brehm pitched a combined five innings and allowed only one earned run.

It was the Bears third loss to Rice this season, the other two coming at Rice and at Enron Field in the season opener.

Baylor will now play 10 of its next 12 games on the road, including a three game set with Nebraska in Lincoln this weekend. First pitch is set for 6: 30 p.m. Friday.