Houston: Eddie Degerman New C-USA Strikeout King

By Jeremy Mills - June 10, 2006

With his strikeout of Joseph Hughes to start the top of the seventh inning, Eddie Degerman set the Conference USA single season strikeout record with his 158th whiff of the season. Brad Sullivan set the previous record in 2002 while pitching across town for the Houston Cougars. He also moves within six strikeouts of the Rice single season mark, set when Wade Townsend struck out 164 batters during the 2003 national championship run.

After a deep fly to center for the second out of the inning, Degerman walked Russell Raley to prompt Owl skipper Wayne Graham to visit the mound. The Rice crowd rose to their feet as the count went full to Ryan Rohlinger, but a double to left drove in the third Sooner run of the game and ended the evening for Eddie Degerman.

Degerman leaves the game after throwing 6 2/3 innings while allowing six hits and two walks. He struck out eight Sooners on the night, and allowed four runs (three earned) on the evening.

Bryce Cox (4-1, 4.91) entered for the Owls, and was greeted by a Kevin Smith RBI double to left on his first pitch before retiring pinch-hitter Freddy Rodriguez to end the inning.

At the stretch, the Rice lead is down to 7-4.