The UTRGV baseball team dropped its first road game of the season, 14-3, against the Rice Owls on Tuesday at Reckling Park in Houston.
UTRGV (8-4) had six players record two hits as the Vaqueros outhit the Owls, 13-8. But six free passes and five hits during the second inning allowed Rice (5-7) a nine-spot to gain control of the game early.
Graduate student left fielder Brandon Pimentel went 2-for-5 with a home run. Senior center fielder Zerek Saenz and redshirt sophomore second baseman Isaac Lopez also went 2-for-5 and Lopez notched one RBI. Senior catcher RJ Ochoa and junior shortstop Kade York were both 2-for-4, and senior third baseman Roberto Gonzalez finished 2-for-3. Graduate student right fielder Montclair Cain tallied one RBI on a sacrifice groundout. Senior RHP J.C. Ariza took the loss, allowing seven runs on four hits and three walks with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. UTRGV used eight pitchers in the midweek contest.
Rice’s Pierce Gallo went 3-for-3 with a walk and had three RBI and three runs scored. Connor Walsh went 2-for-3 and drove in five RBI with help from a three-run homerun. Tyler Hamilton earned the win, tossing 2 1/3 innings and allowing one run on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
The Vaqueros return to UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg for their Western Athletic Conference (WAC) opening series against California Baptist. Games will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at noon Sunday.