April 12, 2008

Final Stats

(Malibu, CA) - San Francisco and No. 9 Pepperdine changed leads five times, but the Waves pulled through in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 11-10 West Coast Conference victory at Eddy D. Field on Saturday afternoon. The Dons (21-13, 5-3 WCC) scored their 10 runs off only nine hits, compared with Pepperdine's (22-11, 5-2 WCC) 11 runs off 16 hits.

USF plated early, scoring two in the first inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin reached first on an error by Waves right fielder Donald Brown that allowed both base runners to score.

Pepperdine wouldn't be down long as it scored once in the bottom of the first, and put up five in the second. The Waves would also score another in the fourth before USF regained the lead with a huge six run fifth inning.

With one out, senior shortstop Tavo Hall and senior second baseman Joey Railey both walked, and moved to second and third on a double steal. Freshman left fielder Connor Bernatz singled to right field, scoring Hall and putting runners on the corners. Sophomore third baseman Derek Poppert reached on an infield single, plating Railey. Senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky walked to load the bases. After a pitching change for the waves, Lipkin walked in the third run of the frame. Another Pepperdine pitching change brought on a two-run double to left off the bat of senior right fielder Kyle Morgan, putting runners at second and third. The Dons final run came from an RBI ground out from sophomore designated hitter Drew Johnson, to make it 8-7.

San Francisco battled for two more in the eighth and ninth. In the eighth, Johnson doubled to right center and moved to third on sophomore center fielder Bobby Ethel's sacrifice bunt. Hall then sacrificed to center, scoring Johnson. Pepperdine plated one in the bottom half to make it 9-8, still in USF's favor. With one out in the ninth, Poppert singled to right and scored on Bialosky's double to left center, giving the Dons a 10-8 lead.

Pepperdine would not be outdone however, as the Waves would plate three in the bottom of the inning to take the walk-off victory.

Freshman left-hander Garrett Luippold (3-1) took the loss in relief, throwing 1.2 innings, allowing four earned runs off four hits and three walks. Senior lefty Matt Baugh earned the no decision after 7.0 innings, seven earned runs off 11 hits, and five walks.

Morgan was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Bialosky was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Poppert was also 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Johnson doubled, batted in a run and scored. Bernatz and Lipkin singled in the contest.

Waves' senior right-hander Nick Gaudi (3-0) earned the victory in relief, allowing one earned run off three hits, a walk and a strikeout in 1.2 innings. Freshman left-handed starter Scott Alexander took the no decision after seven runs (five earned) off four hits, five walks and three strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Junior third baseman Bryce Mendonca and junior center fielder Eric Thames each had four hits on the day.

USF and Pepperdine meet for game three tomorrow at 1:00 PM.