June 16, 2008

Tough, But Not Impossible

Rice must fight through losers' bracket to reach Championship Series

By Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

OMAHA, Neb. – It’s been done before.

That’s the message Rice head coach Wayne Graham preached to his players following the Owls’ 17-5 loss to Fresno State in the first round of the 2008 College World Series.

Just two years ago, Oregon State dropped an 11-1 decision to Miami in its CWS opener before winning four straight to reach the Championship Series. The Beavers outscored their opponents 20-4 in those contests, including a pair of shutouts over the Owls. OSU then took two of three from North Carolina to win the national title.

“There is plenty of precedence for teams that have had a bad defeat coming back from it,” Graham said. “Oregon State won the national championship after being beaten badly by Miami in the first game in 2006. We’ve got plenty of pitching to do what needs to be done. It’s just playing good baseball.”

The Owls won 27 of 30 coming into the College World Series, including five straight in the NCAA Tournament. Rice will play an elimination game against either LSU or North Carolina on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET.