Houston ? A big first inning for the Rice hitters put the Owls a step closer to the College World Series.

Brian Friday and Josh Rodriguez hit consecutive home runs in a four-run first to lead the Owls to a 10-4 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday in the opener of a best-of-three NCAA super regional series.

The Owls (54-10) and Sooners meet today in the second game of the series at Rice’s Reckling Park. A third game, if necessary, would be played Monday.

Rice roughed up Oklahoma starter Steven Guerra for six earned runs in just 12â3 innings. The Owls, who led 4-0 after one inning and 6-2 through the second, hit four home runs off Sooner pitching.

“I was sitting on the pitch I hit out,” Friday said. “I think it helped calm everybody down on our team.”

After Rice leadoff hitter Tyler Henley was hit a by a pitch in the first inning, Greg Buchanan delivered a single to right. One pitch later, Friday ripped his three-run shot just inside the pole down the left field line. Oklahoma head coach Sunny Golloway disputed the home run call, but replays showed Friday’s blast to be fair.

“Hitting that first batter was key for them,” Guerra said. “After that, I couldn’t locate my pitches. I left one up (to Friday) and then left another one up.”

Rodriguez then crushed another Guerra pitch well beyond the wall in left-center field for a 4-0 lead.