CLEARWATER, Fla. – Jack Riedel hit two home runs and three pitchers combined for a shutout as No. 8 seed Rice defeated No. 5 seed UAB, 9-0, in an elimination game at the 2024 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions on Wednesday afternoon, May 22 at BayCare Ballpark.
 
With the win, Rice (23-35) advances to play the loser between Wichita State and East Carolina on Friday, May 24 at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. UAB finishes the season with a record of 26-29.
 
Parker Smith (5-5) struck out eight batters in 6.2 innings while scattering six hits before Garrett Stratton came on in relief and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings before Mark Perkins came on and recorded the final out.
 
Riedel opened the scoring for Rice with a solo home run in the top of the second inning, his league-leading 16^th of the season. The Owls added a run in the third on a double play and a run in the fourth on an error.
 
Kyte McDonald drove home Jacob Devenny in the seventh to push the lead to 4-0 for Rice. The Owls added three more in the top of the eighth on a sac fly by Manny Garza and a 2-run double by Max Johnson, while Riedel hit his second home run of the day in the ninth inning, a 2-run shot to left.
 
First-team all-conference selection Blayze Berry (9-3) allowed four runs (three earned) in 6.1 innings of work for the Blazers.
 
2024 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central
 
Schedule
Tuesday, May 21
Game 1: No. 4 Wichita State 8, No. 5 UAB 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 12, No. 8 Rice 4 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 7 Charlotte 9, No. 2 UTSA 5 (12 innings) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 3 Tulane 14, No. 6 Florida Atlantic (7 innings) | Box Score | Highlights
 
Wednesday, May 22
Game 5: Rice 9, UAB 0 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 6: Florida Atlantic vs. UTSA | 4:55 p.m. | ESPN+
 
Thursday, May 23
Game 7: Wichita State vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: Charlotte vs. Tulane | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
 
Friday, May 24
Game 9: Rice vs. Loser of Game 7 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 6 | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
 
Saturday, May 25
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 (if necessary) | TBD | ESPN+
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 (if necessary) | TBD | ESPN+
 
Sunday, May 26
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS/ESPN+
 
All times listed are Eastern.