On February 10, 2001, Rice beat top-ranked Georgia Tech 5-4 after trailing 4–3 with two outs and no runners on base in the ninth inning.

The 2003 season was the culmination of an 11-year building process for head coach Wayne Graham, and Rice won a school-record 30 consecutive games in February, March, and April, including 22 wins at Reckling Park, en route to a 58–12 record.

In the postseason, Rice rallied from a first-game defeat against crosstown rival Houston to again win the super regional at Reckling Park.

In the 2003 College World Series, Rice beat Southwest Missouri State, rival Texas twice, and Stanford two-games-to-one to capture its first national championship in any team sport.

[1] Rice joined Conference USA in 2005–06, and the next C-USA baseball tournament was held at Reckling Park in May 2006.

With eight teams on hand, Rice (the regular-season champion) won its 11th consecutive conference title with an 11–5 championship game win over crosstown rival Houston.

Rice improved to 4–0 in super regionals held at Reckling Park by sweeping Texas A&M in two hard-fought games, advancing to the 2007 College World Series.

The seating area was expanded during the 2004 season, making the grandstand symmetrical and enlarging capacity in time for the 2004 postseason.