Someday, the Houston Cougar baseball team will win a game against crosstown rival Rice. But that day wasn't Friday, as the Owls scored their twelfth straight victory in the series by an 8-2 final. The win was Rice's third over Houston this year, clinching them a victory in the annual Silver Glove Series.
Houston had some chances to get on the board early, getting the lead-off batter on base in the third and fourth, but failing to score in either frame.
Rice drew first blood, with a four-run fourth inning, capped off by a Michael Ratterree two-run homer.
The Cougars used three singles to plate two runs in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the deficit to 4-2. However, the Owls answered right back, scoring three more in the top of the sixth, including an RBI single by Ratteree, scoring Anthony Rendon, who had drawn a walk.
The win moved Rice out of a tie with Houston for second place in Conference USA. The series continues Saturday at Cougar Field at 3:00 PM.