Berkman goes beserk

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by John Fredland

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Lance Berkman connected for two home runs in Rice's 17-5 victory in the first game of a doubleheader with the University of Massachusetts last Saturday.

Not a bad day at the office for the first baseman/designated hitter.

But the Owl first baseman managed to outdo that in the nightcap.

He warmed up the chilly evening with a staggering four home runs to lead Rice to a 15-7 triumph.

Berkman's day earned him a chapter in the Rice and Southwest Conference record books:

* four home runs in one game tied the SWC record, set by Texas Tech University's Johnny Vidales and Todd Howey against Sul Ross State University in 1984.

* 16 total bases in a game equaled the SWC record, set by Rice's Eric Graff against Texas Christian University in 1987.

* six home runs in a doubleheader is believed to be an SWC record.

* six home runs over two games broke Jose Cruz's team record for home runs in back-to-back games.

"I just kept swinging good, and they kept throwing them where I could hit it," Berkman said.

While five of his home runs came with nobody on base, Berkman took a break from his solo act to hit his most important home run of the day.

He launched a tie-breaking three-run shot in the sixth inning of the second game that gave Rice a 10-7 advantage.

Saturday's outburst was the highlight of a week in which Berkman exploded.

He hit nine home runs and drove in 24 runs in seven games.

His exploits earned him national Co-Player of the Week honors from Collegiate Baseball .

"You can't compare that to anything," Head Coach Wayne Graham said.

"It's just a case of a guy going into a zone. You won't see that again, a guy hitting nine home runs in a week."

This item appeared in the Sports section of the March 15, 1996 issue.

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