HOUSTON—I just ran into Rice assistant coach David Pierce in the press box here at Minute Maid Park, and he had a few interesting nuggets to pass along.

First, Pierce said senior righthander Mike Ojala is progressing well in his recovery from Tommy John Sugery just more than eight months ago. Ojala threw to hitters yesterday and looked good, and Pierce said he hopes to give Ojala some spot duty in a lopsided game in the next week or two.

Pierce said the Owls will throw sophomore lefty Taylor Wall tonight against Texas, with lefty Tony Cingrani going tomorrow against Texas Tech, and Boogie Anagnostou going on Sunday against Texas Christian.

Finally, Pierce said catcher Diego Seastrunk will not play this weekend as he nurses a pulled oblique muscle suffered last weekend. But the Owls should be fine behind the plate with sophomore Craig Manuel and unheralded but surprising freshman Geoff Perrett splitting the duties.

"Perrett has been a godsend," Pierce said.