Rice Beats Indiana, Earns Another Shot at Titans

Rice will get a second opportunity for a victory over Cal State Fullerton today after eliminating Big Ten champion Indiana, 11-8, Saturday night in the rain-delayed NCAA Midwest Regional.

The Owls (41-22) take on Fullerton at noon today in a losers’ bracket game. Fullerton won the earlier game, 7-3, Friday.

First baseman Lance Berkman hit two home runs, driving in six runs, to spark Rice. Berkman had four hits in five at-bats and Tim McLaughlin was three for five.

Matt Anderson (9-3) pitched 5 1/3 innings of strong relief for Rice, giving up only two hits and one run. Indiana (43-18) had a 7-5 lead after five innings, but Anderson shut down the Hoosiers the rest of the way and Rice came back.