Hot Bears Host Third-Ranked Rice
May 17, 2004 WACO, Texas - Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting third-ranked and defending national champion Rice for a 7 p.m. CDT first pitch at Baylor Ballpark. This is the first meeting of the season between the two stalwart programs and Rice's first visit to Waco since April 10, 2001. The Bears (26-25) have won 10 of their last 13 after a weekend sweep of Nebraska at Baylor Ballpark. Baylor is 16-7 since April 3. The Owls (38-9) have won four straight, including a weekend sweep at home against Nevada. Rice is the third top-10 opponent the Bears have faced this season (No. 1 Texas and No. 8 Long Beach State). The Owls also are the sixth opponent Baylor has played this season which has won a national title. The others are Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and UC Irvine (Division II in 1973 and 1974). Baylor sends southpaw Jared Theodorakos (3-3) to the mound against Rice right-hander Jeff Niemann (5-2), older brother of Baylor women's basketball standout Emily Niemann.
The Bears play their final home game of the 2004 season Wednesday, hosting Texas Southern at 7 p.m. in a game added to the schedule to compensate for the April 24 rainout against Kansas.
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