By I.C. Murrell
The News sports editor
HOUSTON — Ford Proctor is enjoying quite a freshman season at Rice.
Hitting .331 on the season, the 2015 Kelly graduate and three-hole hitter had himself a busy Wednesday night at Reckling Park. He went 3 for 4 with a double, stole a base and scored on a passed ball as the 14th-ranked Owls beat Lamar 7-2 in front of 3,782 fans.
It’s the largest defeat for the Cardinals this season.
“I’ve just been lucky enough to get the opportunity to play at a university like Rice and for a coach like [Wayne] Graham and the great assistants we have,” said Proctor, who is from Beaumont. It’s been a good ride so far. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
Proctor said he had fun playing against his hometown university, which was looking for its fourth win against a team in the RPI top 40 to strength its case for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Lamar (31-12), which has dropped two straight, has to turn its attention back to Southland Conference play when it hosts league-leading Southeastern Louisiana Friday through Sunday. Lamar is two games behind SELA (32-13, 18-3 Southland before Wednesday) in league standings.
“This couldn’t have been a better warm-up for Southeastern, because that’s the type of arms you’re going to see and breaking stuff you’re going to see,” Lamar coach Jim Gilligan said.
True freshman Zach Esquivel (1-0), who had 10 2/3 innings in 10 appearances before Wednesday, struck out six Cardinals and allowed one earned run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.
“Hopefully, this game will pay some dividends in that series,” Gilligan said. “We have two playoff series coming up.”
Sandwiched between the SELA and Sam Houston State home battles is a Monday home game against the University of Houston.
Rice (28-14) tagged Lamar starter Jayson McKinley (2-2) for seven hits — three of them doubles and two doubles — in 5 2/3 innings. McKinley tossed three strikeouts.
Ryan Chandler brought Dominic DiCaprio home on a triple to tie the game at 1-1 in the third. Proctor, who led off the fourth with a single, stole second and scored on a passed ball for the go-ahead run.
Proctor doubled in the fifth to drive in a run, part of a three-run outburst that put the Owls up 5-1 and chased McKinley. DiCaprio, who tripled to start the third, knocked a double and scored on a Charlie Warren triple before Dane Myers and Proctor produced back-to-back two-baggers.
Robin Adames blasted a solo home run to left center in the Lamar second, but left the game in the seventh after he was hit by a pitch in his left arm.
Stijn van der Meer went 2 for 4 to lead Lamar. Reid Russell, who had an 11-game hitting streak before Sunday’s loss at Incarnate Word, slapped a one-run single with two out on a 1-2 count in the eighth.
Gray and DiCaprio each had two hits for Rice.
NATIONAL PITCHER
OF THE MONTH
Will Hibbs will take the mound for Lamar on Friday as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pitcher of the Month. The association announced the honor for Hibbs on Wednesday.
Hibbs (9-1, 1.98 ERA), a senior from Friendswood, went 5-0 with a 1.75 ERA in April. He pitched 26 innings in seven appearances and allowed seven earned runs on 28 hits and six walks while striking out 45.
Hibbs was Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week following a 14-strikeout gem against McNeese State.