The Rice baseball team held its annual Fan Fest event Feb. 5, inviting Owls supporters to acquaint themselves with the squad before the season begins.
Players signed autographs and took photos with fans, who also had the opportunity to experience Reckling Park's new state-of-the-art Act Global TM NR34 synthetic turf field for the first time.
The 2023 Owls will open their 30-game home schedule Feb. 17 with the first of three games against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The nonconference slate also includes games with regional rivals Sam Houston State University, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M University, Lamar University, McNeese State University, Houston University, the University of Incarnate Word and Prairie View A&M University.
(Photos by Jeff Fitlow)
![A fan practices his swing at Rice baseball's annual Fan Fest on Feb. 5, 2023.](/sites/g/files/bxs2656/files/inline-images/3.jpg)
![A Rice baseball player signs an autograph for a fan at the annual Fan Fest event on Feb. 5, 2023.](/sites/g/files/bxs2656/files/inline-images/1_0.jpg)
![Rice University president Reginald DesRoches (right) attends Rice baseball's annual Fan Fest on Feb. 5, 2023.](/sites/g/files/bxs2656/files/inline-images/5.jpg)
![A Rice baseball player signs a fan's hat at the team's annual Fan Fest event on Feb. 5, 2023.](/sites/g/files/bxs2656/files/inline-images/6.jpg)
![A Rice baseball fan slides into first base at the team's annual Fan Fest event on Feb. 5, 2023.](/sites/g/files/bxs2656/files/inline-images/7.jpg)