HOUSTON (AP) — Michael Fuda hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to give Rice the go-ahead run and the Owls held on to beat Prairie View A&M 3-2 in the opener of the Houston Regional on Friday night.
The Owls (41-17) scored one run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Ford Stainback and another in the third inning when Michael Ratterree tripled to score J.T. Chargois. The game remained tied until Fuda’s home run.
Prairie View A&M (28-24) had a brief 2-0 lead after scoring in the second on Colby Hines’ two-run double.
Rice starter John Simms (6-0) went seven innings, and allowed two runs — one earned — and two hits, while striking out seven and walking three. Tyler Duffey earned his seventh save by pitching two scoreless innings and striking out three.
Prairie View starter Derrick Mitchell allowed two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings.
