HOUSTON (Interstat) — Tyler Cox drove in four runs and Alex Solis pitched two scoreless innings as Houston defeated Rice 14-3 on Tuesday at M.O. Campbell Center. The Cougars improved to 23-29, while the Owls fell to 31-22.

Houston erupted for nine runs in the first inning. Xavier Perez doubled in two, Riley Jackson added an RBI double, and Cox singled in two more. An error on a pickoff allowed a run, and Tre Broussard singled in another before scoring on a throwing error. Cox singled in two more in the second, and a sacrifice fly made it 12-0.

Rice scored three unearned runs in the fourth on a fielding error and a sacrifice fly, but Houston answered with two in the bottom half on walks by Jackson and Sabathia. Solis struck out two in two innings. Tyler Bryan also tossed two scoreless innings. Zach Fetchel and Carson Kuhn each struck out two in a scoreless frame for Rice. Chris Scinta allowed two hits in a scoreless inning for Houston, while Jackson Blank took the loss. Broussard finished 3-for-5.

Houston outhit Rice 13-6.