NCAA Baseball Tournament: Rice defeats Texas A&M to advance to College World Series

CUSA Fans sports writer Joey Whelan brings us a recap of the NCAA Baseball Tournament's Super Regional featuring the Rice Owls defeating the Texas A&M Aggies.

Rice advanced to their second consecutive College World Series after picking up back-to-back wins over Texas A&M this weekend in the Super Regionals.

Rice vs. Texas A&M - Game 1

The series opener between the Owls and the Aggies had no shortage of drama as Rice rallied to claim a 3-2 win in 10 innings. Texas A&M led 2-0 early on after plating runs in the second and third innings. Back-to-back two out doubles in the third by Kyle Colligan and Brandon Hicks brought in the second run.

A pair of errors in the fifth inning by the Aggies allowed J.P. Padron to reach base and then subsequently score to cut the margin to 2-1. Things would remain that way until the bottom on the ninth inning. Jordan Dodson led off with a single and was sacrificed into scoring position by Tyler Henley before Diego Seastrunk blooped a game-tying single.

One inning later in the tenth Rice would end the game with more solid hitting at the plate. Danny Lehmann bunted his way on with two outs, and after Joe Savery walked, Jordan Dodson came up big again, singling and scoring Lehmann for the winning run.

In all, Rice had eight hits, but it was their pitching that was the major factor in the win. Starter Ryan Berry went 7.1 innings, allowing just two runs while striking out ten batters. All-American reliever Bobby Bramhall shut the door in the final 2.2 innings, allowing one base runner and striking out four.

Rice vs. Texas A&M - Game 2

Rice advanced to their sixth College World Series with a 5-2 series clinching win over Texas A&M. Joe Savery was the big bat for the Owls, wrapping out three hits and driving in three runs.

Rice wasted no time getting on the board, scoring a run in the first inning. Brian Friday led the game off with a double and a couple of batters later Savery singled in the run. The Aggies threatened in the next inning, loading the bases with no one out, but Craig Stinson struck out and Luke Anders grounded into an inning ending double play.

The lead grew to 2-0 when Savery led off the third inning with a solo home run. Rice would add three more runs, one each in the fourth, seventh and eighth innings. Texas A&M would add a pair of runs in the fourth and eighth innings, but for the most part they were held in check by the stellar pitching of the Owls. Starter Matt Langwell improved to 8-1 after throwing 6.1 innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven batters. Cole St. Clair would finish up the contest, allowing one run in 2.2 innings.

Up Next for the Rice Owls...

Rice will kick off the College World Series with a match up against Louisville. The Cardinals are making their first appearance in the CWS and are coming off an impressive series clinching 20-2 win over Oklahoma State.