2021 Rice Owls baseball team
{{Short description|Baseball team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode = baseball
|year = 2021
|team = Rice Owls
|logo = Rice Owls logo.svg
|logo_size = 100
|conference = Conference USA
|division = West Division
|short_conf = C-USA
|CoachRank =
|CBRank =
|record = 23–29–1
|conf_record = 11–20–1
|head_coach = Matt Bragga
|asst_coach1 = Cory Barton
|asst_coach2 = Paul Janish
|asst_coach3 = Trevor Putzig
|stadium = Reckling Park
|uniform = 250px
|champion =
|bowl =
|bowl_result =
}}
{{2021 Conference USA baseball standings}}
The 2021 Rice Owls baseball team represented Rice University in the sport of baseball for the 2021 college baseball season. The Owls competed in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and in Conference USA West Division. They played their home games at Reckling Park in Houston, Texas. The team was coached by Matt Bragga, who was in his third season with the Owls.
For the first time since joining Conference USA in 2005, Rice did not qualify for this season's conference tournament. The Owl's broke their 14-year appearance in the tournament. On May 24, 2021, Rice announced that coach Bragga was relieved from his coaching duties.{{cite web|first=Randy|last=McIlvoy|title=Rice AD announces coaching change for baseball program: Matt Bragga let go after three seasons|url=https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2021/05/24/rice-ad-announces-coaching-change-for-baseball-program-matt-bragga-let-go-after-three-seasons/|publisher=KPRC-TV|accessdate=May 25, 2021|date=May 24, 2021}}
Preseason
=C-USA media poll=
The Conference USA preseason poll was released on February 11, 2021 with the Owls predicted to finish in third place in the West Division.{{Cite web|url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2021/2/11/2021-baseball-preseason-poll-and-awards.aspx|title = 2021 Baseball Preseason Poll and Awards}}
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| align="center"
|align="center" Colspan="3" |Media poll (West) | ||
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{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Rice Owls|Predicted finish|Team|1st Place Votes}} | ||
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| 1 | Southern Miss | 10 |
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| 2 | Louisiana Tech | 2 |
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| 3 | Rice | - |
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| 4 | Middle Tennessee | - |
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| 5 | UTSA | - |
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| 6 | UAB | - |
=Preseason All-CUSA team=
- Braden Comeaux – Infielder
{{clear}}
Schedule and results
| class="toccolours" width=95% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;" | ||||||
| colspan=2 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|color=white|Rice Owls}}" | 2021 Rice Owl baseball game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan=2 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|color=white|Rice Owls}}" | Regular season (23–29–1) | ||||||
| valign="top"
| {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:auto; width:100%; text-align:center; font-size:95%" ! colspan=11 style="padding-left:4em;{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|color=white|Rice Owls}}" | February (2–4) | ||||||
| Date
! Opponent ! Site/stadium ! Score ! Attendance ! Overall record ! C-USA record | ||||||
| align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb"
|February 19 | Little Rock | Reckling Park Houston, TX | colspan=4| Canceled {{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Herrera|title=Weather postpones Rice athletic events|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/Weather-postpones-Rice-athletic-events-15960848.php|publisher=Houston Chronicle|accessdate=April 13, 2021|date=February 18, 2021}} | |||
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|February 20 | {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Houston Baptist Huskies baseball|title=Houston Baptist}} | Reckling Park | L 7-810 | 994 | 0-1 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb"
|February 20 | {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Washington Huskies baseball|title=Washington}} | Reckling Park | colspan=4| Canceled | |||
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|February 21 | Houston Baptist | Reckling Park | W 9-3 | 946 | 1-1 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|February 22 | Houston Baptist | Reckling Park | W 1-0 | 835 | 2-1 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb"
|February 24 | at {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Lamar Cardinals baseball|title=Lamar}} | Vincent–Beck Stadium Beaumont, TX | colspan=4| Canceled | |||
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|February 26 | at Louisiana | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park Lafayette, LA | L 3-7 | 890 | 2-2 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|February 27 | at Louisiana | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park | L 3-5 | 911 | 2-3 | - |
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|February 28 | at Louisiana | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park | L 3-6 | 761 | 2-4 | - |
|-
|
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:auto; width:100%; text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! colspan=11 style="padding-left:4em;{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|color=white|Rice Owls}}" | March (10–8) | ||||||
| Date
! Opponent ! Site/stadium ! Score ! Attendance ! Overall record ! C-USA record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|March 3 | {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Prairie View A&M Panthers baseball|title=Prairie View A&M}} | Reckling Park Houston, TX | W 10-0 | 912 | 3-4 | - |
| colspan=7 style="padding-left:4em;background:#00205B; color:#FFFFFF" | Shriners Hospitals For Children College Classic | ||||||
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|March 5 | vs. {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Sam Houston State Bearkats baseball|title=Sam Houston State}} | Minute Maid Park Houston, TX | L 4-12 | 3-5 | - | |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|March 6 | vs. {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders baseball|title=Texas A&M–Corpus Christi}} | Minute Maid Park | W 16-5 | 1,000 | 4-5 | - |
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|March 7 | vs. Texas State | Minute Maid Park | L 1-9 | 2,255 | 4-6 | - |
| colspan=7 style="padding-left:4em;background:#00205B; color:#FFFFFF" | | ||||||
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|March 9 | {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Houston Baptist Huskies baseball|title=Houston Baptist}} | Reckling Park | W 3-1 | 923 | 5-6 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|March 12 | {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Northern Illinois Huskies baseball|title=Northern Illinois}} | Reckling Park | W 6-3 | 1,043 | 6-6 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|March 13 (1) | Kansas State | Reckling Park | L 3-8 | 1,238 | 6-7 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|March 13 (2) | Northern Illinois | Reckling Park | W 4-1 | 858 | 7-7 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|March 14 | Kansas State | Reckling Park | W 1-0 | 1,041 | 8-7 | - |
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|March 17 | at Texas State | Bobcat Ballpark San Marcos, TX | L 5-167 | 700 | 8-8 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|March 19 | {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Southern Jaguars baseball|title=Southern}} | Reckling Park | W 14-2 | 1,131 | 9-8 | - |
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|March 20 | Southern | Reckling Park | W 13-4 | 1,079 | 10-8 | - |
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|March 21 | Southern | Reckling Park | L 4-6 | 1,012 | 10-9 | - |
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|March 23 | at {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Texas A&M Aggies baseball|title=Texas A&M}} | Blue Bell Park College State, TX | W 2-1 | 1,334 | 11-9 | - |
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|March 26 | UTSA | Reckling Park | L 4-16 | 1,220 | 11-10 | 0-1 |
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|March 27 (1) | UTSA | Reckling Park | W 10-8 | 1,009 | 12-10 | 1-1 |
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|March 27 (2) | UTSA | Reckling Park | L 1-4 | 1,171 | 12-11 | 1-2 |
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|March 28 | UTSA | Reckling Park | L 3-11 | 1,059 | 12-12 | 1-3 |
|-
|
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:auto; width:100%; text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! colspan=11 style="padding-left:4em;{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|color=white|Rice Owls}}" | April (6–12–1) | ||||||
| Date
! Opponent ! Site/stadium ! Score ! Attendance ! Overall record ! C-USA record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|April 1 | at Middle Tennessee | Reese Smith Jr. Field Murfreesboro, TN | L 1-4 | 200 | 12-13 | 1-4 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|April 2 (1) | at Middle Tennessee | Reese Smith Jr. Field | L 3-49 | 200 | 12-14 | 1-5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|April 2 (2) | at Middle Tennessee | Reese Smith Jr. Field | W 4-17 | 200 | 13-14 | 2-5 |
| align="center" bgcolor="FDFD96"
|April 3 | at Middle Tennessee | Reese Smith Jr. Field | T 9-912 | 200 | 13-14-1 | 2-5-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|April 9 | No. 16 Louisiana Tech | Reckling Park Houston, TX | L 0-6 | 1,179 | 13-15-1 | 2-6-1 |
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|April 10 (1) | No. 16 Louisiana Tech | Reckling Park | L 6-77 | 952 | 13-16-1 | 2-7-1 |
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|April 10 (2) | No. 16 Louisiana Tech | Reckling Park | L 6-207 | 1,158 | 13-17-1 | 2-8-1 |
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|April 11 | No. 16 Louisiana Tech | Reckling Park | L 4-13 | 1,180 | 13-18-1 | 2-9-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|April 13 | {{CBSB link|year=2021|team=Incarnate Word Cardinals baseball|title=Incarnate Word}} | Reckling Park | W 15-1210 | 1,045 | 14-18-1 | - |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|April 16 | at No. 22 Old Dominion | Bud Metheny Baseball Complex Norfolk, VA | L 4-11 | 402 | 14-19-1 | 2-10-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|April 17 (1) | at No. 22 Old Dominion | Bud Metheny Baseball Complex | L 2-117 | 402 | 14-20-1 | 2-11-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|April 17 (2) | at No. 22 Old Dominion | Bud Metheny Baseball Complex | W 11-27 | 270 | 15-20-1 | 3-11-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|April 18 | at No. 22 Old Dominion | Bud Metheny Baseball Complex | L 1-4 | 278 | 15-21-1 | 3-12-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|April 23 | at UTSA | Roadrunner Field San Antonio, TX | W 8-6 | 124 | 16-21-1 | 4-12-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|April 24 (1) | at UTSA | Roadrunner Field | W 5-47 | 17-21-1 | 5-12-1 | |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|April 24 (2) | at UTSA | Roadrunner Field | L 6-127 | 127 | 17-22-1 | 5-13-1 |
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|April 25 | at UTSA | Roadrunner Field | L 4-12 | 136 | 17-23-1 | 5-14-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|April 30 (1) | No. 23 Southern Miss | Reckling Park | W 6-07 | 872 | 18-23-1 | 6-14-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|April 30 (2) | No. 23 Southern Miss | Reckling Park | L 1-127 | 1,064 | 18-24-1 | 6-15-1 |
|-
|
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:auto; width:100%; text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! colspan=11 style="padding-left:4em;{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|color=white|Rice Owls}}" | May (5–5) | ||||||
| Date
! Opponent ! Site/stadium ! Score ! Attendance ! Overall record ! C-USA record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|May 1 (1) | No. 23 Southern Miss | Reckling Park Houston, TX | L 1-10 | 1,157 | 18-25-1 | 6-16-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|May 1 (2) | No. 23 Southern Miss | Reckling Park | L 1-8 | 1,115 | 18-26-1 | 6-17-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|May 7 | at UAB | Jerry D. Young Memorial Field Birmingham, AL | W 6-1 | 80 | 19-26-1 | 7-17-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|May 8 (1) | at UAB | Jerry D. Young Memorial Field | L 1-27 | 80 | 19-27-1 | 7-18-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|May 8 (2) | at UAB | Jerry D. Young Memorial Field | W 7-07 | 80 | 20-27-1 | 8-18-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|May 9 | at UAB | Jerry D. Young Memorial Field | W 10-5 | 80 | 21-27-1 | 9-18-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|May 14 | No. 20 Charlotte | Reckling Park | L 6-9 | 989 | 21-28-1 | 9-19-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|May 15 (1) | No. 20 Charlotte | Reckling Park | W 11-87 | 1,146 | 22-28-1 | 10-19-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd"
|May 15 (2) | No. 20 Charlotte | Reckling Park | L 4-66 | 1,330 | 22-29-1 | 10-20-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"
|May 16 | No. 20 Charlotte | Reckling Park | W 6-05 | 1,359 | 23-29-1 | 11-20-1 |
| align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb"
|May 18 | at Texas | UFCU Disch–Falk Field Austin, TX | colspan=4| Canceled |
|}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
• [https://riceowls.com/sports/baseball Rice Baseball]
{{Rice Owls baseball navbox}}