Arkansas stymies Rice in NCAA tourney
HOUSTON (AP) -- Ryne Stanek and Barrett Astin combined on a six-hitter to lead Arkansas to a 1-0 win over Rice on Saturday night in the Houston Regional.
Stanek (7-4) threw seven scoreless innings, giving up five hits and striking out five. Astin gave up a hit over the final two innings for his seventh save.
Austin Kubitza (6-5) allowed an unearned on two hits with eight strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings for Rice (41-18).
Arkansas (41-19) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Dominic Ficociello scored from second after Shane Hoelscher couldn't handle Derrick Bleeker's hot shot at third base. Hoelscher was charged with an error.
Rice (41-18) threatened in the fourth and seventh innings, and again in the ninth when J.T. Chargois reached third with two outs, but Craig Manuel grounded to first to end it.