The 2003 Rice Owls baseball team represented

Rice University William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranke ...

in the 2003 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Owls played their home games at

Reckling Park Reckling Park is the baseball stadium at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA. It serves as the home field of the Rice Owls baseball team. The stadium was built on the site of Cameron Field, Rice's home from 1978–99, in time for the 2000 s ...

. The team was coached by

Wayne Graham Wayne may refer to: People with the given name and surname * Wayne (given name) * Wayne (surname) Geographical Places with name ''Wayne'' may take their name from a person with that surname; the most famous such person was Gen. "Mad" Antho ...

in his 12th season at Rice. The Owls won 30 consecutive games to open the season 33-1 and won the

Western Athletic Conference The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States with member institutions located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Texas. Due to most of t ...

championship. Rice went on to win the

College World Series The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is an annual baseball tournament held in June in Omaha, Nebraska. The MCWS is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divisi ...

, defeating the

Stanford Cardinal The Stanford Cardinal are the athletic teams that represent Stanford University. As of June, 2022, Stanford's program has won 131 NCAA team championships. Stanford has won at least one NCAA team championship each academic year for 46 consecutive ...

in the championship series. It was the first national title that Rice had ever won in a team sport in the school's 91-year history.

Roster

Schedule

! style="background:#5e6062;color:white;", Regular Season , - valign="top" , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 11 , , , ,

, , 6-4 , , Baker (W; 1-0) , , 2,432 , , 1-0 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 14 , , , ,

Minute Maid Park Minute Maid Park is a retractable roof stadium in Houston, Texas, United States. It opened in 2000 as the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Houston Astros. It has a seating capacity of 41,168, which includes 5,197 club seats and 63 ...

, , 10-5 , , Niemann (W; 1-0) , , 8,405 , , 2-0 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 15 , , , , Minute Maid Park , , 4-3 , , Humber (W; 1-0) , , 14,484 , , 3-0 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" , February 16 , , , , Minute Maid Park , , 5-6 , , Ueckert (L; 1-0) , , 10,416 , , 3-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 18 , , at , ,

Cougar Field Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park (formerly known as Cougar Field) is a baseball park in Houston, Texas. It is the home field of the Houston Cougars baseball team. Several iterations of the ballpark have existed. The current stadium holds 5,000 peop ...

, , 3-0 , , Townsend (W; 1-0) , , 1,116 , , 4-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 19 , , at , , Bobcat Baseball Stadium , , 6-0 , , Matheny (W; 1-0) , , 1,608 , , 5-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 22 , , , , Reckling Park , , 11-6 , , Humber (W; 2-0) , , 2,323 , , 6-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 22 , , , , Reckling Park , , 6-0 , , Niemann (W; 2-0) , , 2,562 , , 7-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 23 , , , , Reckling Park , , 1-0 (10) , , Aardsma (W; 1-0) , , 2,657 , , 8-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , February 28 , , Southwest Texas State , , Reckling Park , , 8-3 , , Niemann (W; 3-0) , , 2,054 , , 9-1 , , – , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , March 1 , , Southwest Texas State , , Reckling Park , , 7-5 , , Baker (W; 2-0) , , 2,317 , , 10-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , March 2 , , Southwest Texas State , , Reckling Park , , 10-4 , , Humber (W; 3-0) , , 2,275 , , 11-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" , March 4 , , Houston , , Reckling Park , , 4-3 , , Aardsma (W; 2-0) , , 2,618 , , 12-1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , March 7 , , at , , J.C. Love Field , , 4-3 , , Niemann (W; 4-0) , , 529 , , 13–1 , , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , March 8 , , at Louisiana Tech , , J.C. Love Field , , 5-3 , , Humber (W; 4-0) , , 1,011 , , 14–1 , , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , March 9 , , at Louisiana Tech , , J.C. Love Field , , 12-0 , , Baker (W; 3-0) , , 827 , , 15–1 , , 3–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , March 11 , ,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, , Reckling Park , , 2-1 (10) , , Aardsma (W; 3-0) , , 4,525 , , 16–1 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , March 14 , , at , ,

Les Murakami Stadium Les Murakami Stadium is the baseball stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu CDP,Pete Beiden Field , , 3-7 , , Humber (L; 8-1) , , 2,727 , , 33–3 , , 12–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , April 12 , , at Fresno State , , Pete Beiden Field , , 9-2 , , Niemann (W; 9-0) , , 2,724 , , 34–3 , , 13–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , April 13 , , at Fresno State , , Pete Beiden Field , , 3-2 , , Townsend (W; 6-0) , , 2,564 , , 35–3 , , 14–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , April 15 , , at , , Don Sanders Stadium , , 1-8 , , Aardsma (L; 4-2) , , 481 , , 35–4 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , April 16 , , at Houston , , Cougar Field , , 1-5 , , Herce (L; 0-1) , , 1,672 , , 35-5 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , April 18 , , , , Reckling Park , , 10-5 , , Matheny (W; 2-0) , , 3,103 , , 36–5 , , 15–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , April 19 , , Nevada , , Reckling Park , , 3-0 , , Niemann (W; 10-0) , , 3,314 , , 37–5 , , 16–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , April 20 , , Nevada , , Reckling Park , , 5-6 , , Herce (L; 0-2) , , 2,313 , , 37–6 , , 16–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , April 22 , , at Lamar , ,

Vincent–Beck Stadium Vincent–Beck Stadium (formerly Cardinal Field) is a ballpark located in Beaumont, Texas, on Jim Gilligan Way on the campus of Lamar University. The stadium was built in 1969 and has a current capacity of 3,500 spectators. It is the home stadium ...

, , 5-9 , , Matheny (L; 2-1) , , 1,406 , , 37–7 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , April 24 , , Louisiana Tech , , Reckling Park , , 2-1 , , Humber (W; 9-1) , , 2,715 , , 38–7 , , 17–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , April 25 , , Louisiana Tech , , Reckling Park , , 13-3 , , Niemannn (W; 11-0) , , 3,156 , , 39–7 , , 18–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , April 26 , , Louisiana Tech , , Reckling Park , , 8-2 , , Baker (W; 8-0) , , 3,044 , , 40–7 , , 19–2 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 7 , , Sam Houston State , , Reckling Park , , 10-5 , , Herce (W; 1-2) , , 2,820 , , 41–7 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 9 , , at Nevada , ,

William Peccole Park William Peccole Park is a stadium in Reno, Nevada. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the University of Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack baseball team. It opened in 1988. It holds 3,000 people. It played host to the Reno Silver Sox ...

, , 13-11 , , Humber (W; 10-1) , , 1,206 , , 42–7 , , 20–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 10 , , at Nevada , , William Peccole Park , , 7-4 , , Niemann (W; 12-0) , , 1,636 , , 43–7 , , 21–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , May 11 , , at Nevada , , William Peccole Park , , 7-8 (10) , , Aardsma (L; 4-3) , , 1,875 , , 43–8 , , 21–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 14 , , at , , Louis Guisto Field , , 10-6 , , Matheny (W; 3-1) , , 356 , , 44–8 , , – , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 16 , , at San Jose State , ,

San Jose Municipal Stadium Excite Ballpark, previously known as San Jose Municipal Stadium or Muni Stadium, is a baseball park in San Jose, California. It is the home of the Minor League Baseball San Jose Giants, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The team plays i ...

, , 12-6 , , Aardsma (W; 5-3) , , 553 , , 45–8 , , 22–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 17 , , at San Jose State , ,

, , 11-0 , , Niemann (W; 13-0) , , 612 , , 46–8 , , 23–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , May 17 , , at San Jose State , , Blethen Field , , 6-8 , , Townsend (L; 6-1) , , 553 , , 46–9 , , 23–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , May 23 , , Fresno State , , Reckling Park , , 1-2 , , Humber (L; 10-2) , , 3,015 , , 46–10 , , 23–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 24 , , Fresno State , , Reckling Park , , 13-2 , , Niemann (W; 14-0) , , 2,938 , , 47–10 , , 24–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 25 , , Fresno State , , Reckling Park , , 3-2 , , Townsend (W; 7-1) , , 3,105 , , 48–10 , , 25–5 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 30 , , vs. , , Reckling Park , , 3–2 (10) , , Townsend (W; 8-1) , , 4,014 , , 49–10 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , May 31 , , vs. , , Reckling Park , , 10–1 , , Niemann (W; 15-0) , , 3,769 , , 50–10 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , June 1 , , vs. Wichita State , , Reckling Park , , 5–2 , , Townsend (W; 9-1) , , 3,528 , , 51–10 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , June 7 , , vs. Houston , , Reckling Park , , 2–5 , , Humber (L; 10-3) , , 4,427 , , 51–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , June 8 , , vs. Houston , , Reckling Park , , 10–2 , , Niemann (W; 16-0) , , 4,435 , , 52–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , June 9 , , vs. Houston , , Reckling Park , , 5–2 , , Townsend (W; 10-1) , , 4,417 , , 53–11 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , June 14 , , vs. , ,

Rosenblatt Stadium Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium was a baseball stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, the former home to the annual NCAA Division I College World Series and the minor league Omaha Royals, now known as the Omaha Storm Chasers. Rosenblatt Stadium was the largest m ...

, , 4–2 , , Niemann (W; 17-0) , , 23,248 , , 54–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , June 16 , , vs. Texas , , Rosenblatt Stadium , , 12–2 , , Townsend (W; 11-1) , , 24,842 , , 55–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , June 18 , , vs. Texas , , Rosenblatt Stadium , , 5–4 , , Aardsma (W; 6-1) , , 23,170 , , 56–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , June 21 , , vs.

Stanford Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a Private university, private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. S ...

, , Rosenblatt Stadium , , 4–3 (10) , , Aardsma (W; 7-3) , , 23,741 , , 57–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="ffdddd" , June 22 , , vs. Stanford , , Rosenblatt Stadium , , 3–8 , , Townsend (L; 11-2) , , 17,907 , , 57–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" , June 23 , , vs. Stanford , , Rosenblatt Stadium , , 14–2 , , Humber (W; 11-3) , , 18,494 , , 58–12 , -

Awards and honors

;Dane Bubela * All-WAC First Team ;Enrique Cruz * All-America Third Team * College World Series All-Tournament Team * All-WAC First Team ;Austin Davis * All-WAC First Team ; Philip Humber * All-America Second Team * All-WAC First Team ; Paul Janish * All-WAC Second Team ;Jeff Jorgensen * All-WAC First Team ;Chris Kolkhorst * College World Series All-Tournament Team * All-WAC First Team ;

Jeff Niemann Jeffrey Warren Niemann (born February 28, 1983) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008 to 2012. High school Niemann attended Lamar High School. Co ...

* All-America First Team * College World Series All-Tournament Team * WAC Pitcher of the Year ;Justin Ruchti * All-WAC Second Team ;Vincent Sinisi * All-WAC First Team ; Wade Townsend * All-America First Team * All-WAC First Team

Owls in the 2003 MLB Draft

The following members of the Rice Owls baseball program were drafted in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft.

References

External links

* {{NCAA Division I Baseball Champion navbox

Rice Owls Rice University athletic teams are known as the Rice Owls. The name comes from the owls in Rice's crest. Rice participates in NCAA Division I athletics. A member of Conference USA, Rice sponsors teams in seven men's and seven women's NCAA sanct ...

Rice Owls baseball seasons College World Series seasons NCAA Division I Baseball Championship seasons Western Athletic Conference baseball champion seasons