Rice beats OU 9-5, Owls bound for College World Series

HOUSTON (AP) It's back to the College World Series for 2003 champion Rice. <br/><br/>Josh Rodriguez homered and drove in five runs yesterday as the Owls rallied to beat Oklahoma 9-to-5 to decide their

Tuesday, June 13th 2006, 8:00 am

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) It's back to the College World Series for 2003 champion Rice.

Josh Rodriguez homered and drove in five runs yesterday as the Owls rallied to beat Oklahoma 9-to-5 to decide their best-of-three NCAA Super Regional series.

Oklahoma finishes at 45-and-22.

Rice is 55-and-11.

The Owls turned a 4-to-3 deficit into an 8-to-4 lead with two swings in the sixth inning.

Rodriguez, who had a two-run homer in the first, put Rice ahead 5-to-4 with a bases-loaded single.

Joe Savery followed with a three-run home run just to the right of the 400-foot sign in center field.

A Rodriguez sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Rice's final run.

Cole St. Clair won in relief. John Brownell took the loss.

The College World Series opens Friday in Omaha, Nebraska.