Kravetz helps Owls continue resurgence
Rice was only looking for someone who could lend some innings for a midweek game as the end of the regular season looms.
Lefthanded reliever Evan Kravetz gave the Owls that and more Tuesday night.
Kavetz allowed four hits, one earned run and a walk with career highs in strikeouts (four) and innings (five) in Rice’s 10-1 victory over Texas State at Reckling Park.
It was just his second start in a Rice uniform, and he nabbed his third win of the season and fourth overall. Kravetz had a solid outing, and all the other arms that needed work got some Tuesday.
“It worked out real well on the pitching,” Rice coach Wayne Graham said. “Evan giving us five, Dane (Myers) getting work, (Zach) Esquivel getting work. (Jackson) Parthasarthy and (Addison) Moss getting an inning. That part of it worked out really well. The game worked out really well.”
Kravetz’s only other start came in the Conference USA tournament last year. His production Tuesday might give the Owls (25-28) another starter should they need one in the conference tournament again this year.
Kravetz, a 6-8, 250-pounder, looked comfortable starting Tuesday. He said his off-speed pitches worked best.
“It’s exciting,” Kravetz said. “It’s a good feeling. When I got the call, I was pretty pumped about it. But I knew I just had to keep a level head and go out there and just do what they needed me to do.”
Making the conference tournament still isn’t a lock. But the Owls’ chances to get there and do some damage look solid based on their play the last month of the season.
Rice has won 12 of 15 and is coming off a fourth straight series win in conference play after taking two of three from Middle Tennessee State last weekend.
Since starting 6-17, Rice is 19-11. The Owls have to stay among the top eight to make the conference tournament, which remains their only door open to the NCAA tournament. Rice entered the week in seventh place and finishes the regular season with a three-game series at UAB this weekend.
Rice was bolstered by a six-run third inning that put the game out of reach Tuesday.
Myers had an RBI single to left, and Tristan Gray later went to right for a tworun single with the bases loaded. Darryn Sheppard’s two-run double and Charlie Warren’s RBI single put the finishing touches on the output.