Spring Break
Rice's Berry dominates in pitcher's duel, Owls win 2-0
By: Brad Cox
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Sports
HOUSTON -- At the 2007 Houston College Classic, Texas A&M traveled to Minute Maid Park and upset then-No. 1 Rice.
The Owls repaid the favor on Saturday, upsetting the No. 1 Aggies 2-0 in a dramatic pitcher's duel in the sixth game of the 2009 Houston College Classic.
Rice pitcher Ryan Berry was lights out on the mound. The junior from Humble, Texas, struck out 12 Aggies, had a no-hitter going through five innings, did not walk a batter, and completely shut down an A&M offense that had scored 57 runs in six games.
"All three pitches [were working]," A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said about Berry's performance. "Breaking ball for a strike, expanding the strike zone when he wanted to, and a sneaky quick fastball. He used a few changeups. I thought he competed very well tonight but I thought our guys did too."
The Aggies fell to 6-2 in 2009 while Rice improved to 4-2. A&M has lost the previous five meetings against the Owls, going 0-3 against them in 2008 and losing two games in the 2007 Rice Super Regional. Childress is 2-7 against Rice all-time.
A&M was the home team for the game and sent junior right-hander Alex Wilson to the mound to face No. 9 Rice in the first inning.
Wilson came out firing, reaching 94 mph on his fastball and getting a quick first out, but Owls' sophomore right fielder Chad Mozingo connected with the first pitch he saw for a one-out triple to deep center field. Wilson said Mozingo turned on a fastball that he left up in the zone.
In route to walking junior catcher Diego Seastrunk, Wilson let a pitch go in the dirt. Mozingo scored from third on the wild pitch to give the Owls an early 1-0 lead.
"I didn't have my best stuff today," Wilson said. "I was just able to fight my way through. I guess you could say I was effectively wild. It was just one of those days where the ball didn't bounce our way."
The Aggies could not get anything going at the plate. Berry controlled the strike zone and when A&M did make contact, it was quick routine outs.
The Owls repaid the favor on Saturday, upsetting the No. 1 Aggies 2-0 in a dramatic pitcher's duel in the sixth game of the 2009 Houston College Classic.
Rice pitcher Ryan Berry was lights out on the mound. The junior from Humble, Texas, struck out 12 Aggies, had a no-hitter going through five innings, did not walk a batter, and completely shut down an A&M offense that had scored 57 runs in six games.
"All three pitches [were working]," A&M Head Coach Rob Childress said about Berry's performance. "Breaking ball for a strike, expanding the strike zone when he wanted to, and a sneaky quick fastball. He used a few changeups. I thought he competed very well tonight but I thought our guys did too."
The Aggies fell to 6-2 in 2009 while Rice improved to 4-2. A&M has lost the previous five meetings against the Owls, going 0-3 against them in 2008 and losing two games in the 2007 Rice Super Regional. Childress is 2-7 against Rice all-time.
A&M was the home team for the game and sent junior right-hander Alex Wilson to the mound to face No. 9 Rice in the first inning.
Wilson came out firing, reaching 94 mph on his fastball and getting a quick first out, but Owls' sophomore right fielder Chad Mozingo connected with the first pitch he saw for a one-out triple to deep center field. Wilson said Mozingo turned on a fastball that he left up in the zone.
In route to walking junior catcher Diego Seastrunk, Wilson let a pitch go in the dirt. Mozingo scored from third on the wild pitch to give the Owls an early 1-0 lead.
"I didn't have my best stuff today," Wilson said. "I was just able to fight my way through. I guess you could say I was effectively wild. It was just one of those days where the ball didn't bounce our way."
The Aggies could not get anything going at the plate. Berry controlled the strike zone and when A&M did make contact, it was quick routine outs.
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