ABILENE, Texas (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth nonconference game defined by clutch relief pitching and a decisive ninth-inning rally, the Rice Owls outlasted the Abilene Christian Wildcats 8-6 on Saturday evening at Kimbrell Arena.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the top of the ninth inning with the score tied 6-6. Rice’s Cole Green, who finished 3-for-5, ignited the rally with a single. After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Garet Boehm delivered the game-winning blow, lacing a two-run double to left-center field to score Green and Smith. Boehm later scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by pinch-runner Daigre, providing the final margin.

Rice (9-6) built an early lead, capitalizing on small ball and Wildcats miscues. Colin Robson, who went 3-for-5 with a home run, scored the game’s first run in the opening inning on an infield single and a throwing error. The Owls added two more in the third on a groundout and a sacrifice fly before Robson’s solo homer in the fifth made it 4-1.

Abilene Christian (6-7) chipped away, scoring single runs in the second and fourth innings. The Wildcats then tied the game with a two-run eighth, keyed by a run-scoring double from Cardenas and an RBI single from Ryan Jones, who drove in two runs.

The middle innings were controlled by the bullpens. Rice reliever Tanner Wiggins earned top star honors for the Owls by entering with the bases loaded in the fourth and recording a key strikeout, then tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. He was matched by Abilene Christian’s Baron Mannis, who fired three perfect innings of relief with four strikeouts to keep the Wildcats in the game.

Rice starter Ryland Urbanczyk allowed three runs over 3 1/3 innings, while Abilene Christian starter Aidan Coleman was charged with four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

The win marked Rice’s second straight in the series after a 5-4 victory on Friday. The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 6-5 Wildcats victory and whose ELO system gave Abilene Christian a 62.7% probability to win.

The teams combined for 20 hits, with Abilene Christian holding an 11-9 edge, but Rice executed three sacrifice flies to the Wildcats’ two. Rice closer Ty Thames navigated a scoreless ninth to seal the win.

The three-game series concludes Sunday in Abilene.