The University of Memphis baseball team (12-23, 4-8 American) is set to face Rice University (24-14, 7-5 American) in a critical conference series in Houston starting Friday at 6:35 p.m. Memphis enters the series after securing back-to-back wins, while Rice rides a five-game winning streak. Historically, Rice leads the all-time series against Memphis 24-13, but the Tigers recently swept Rice during their last visit. Senior Freddy Rodriguez has been a standout player for Memphis, leading the team in stolen bases as they prepare to challenge a strong Rice pitching staff.

By the Numbers
  • Memphis has stolen 87 bases, ranking first in the American Conference and 25th nationally.
  • Freddy Rodriguez is 29-for-32 in stolen base attempts, leading the conference and ranking third nationally.
  • Rice is currently on a five-game winning streak, including a recent series sweep of Charlotte.
Yes, But

While Memphis has seen recent successes, their overall record of 12-23 may raise concerns about consistency against a strong Rice team that has the longest winning streak in the conference.

State of Play
  • Both teams are coming off recent wins, with Memphis winning against Florida Atlantic and Mississippi Valley State.
  • Rice completed its first conference sweep since 2024, highlighting their current momentum.
What's Next

As the series progresses, Memphis will seek to build on their recent momentum to challenge Rice's formidable pitching staff and maintain their offensive aggression on the basepaths.

Bottom Line

The upcoming series represents a pivotal moment for Memphis to prove themselves against a historically stronger Rice team, and success could help turn their season around as they aim for a competitive finish in the conference.