April 13, 2008

Final Stats

(Malibu, CA) - San Francisco mounted a consistent comeback over the last five innings, but couldn't earn the win, falling to No. 9 Pepperdine 8-5 in West Coast Conference action at Eddy D. Field on Sunday afternoon. USF (21-14, 5-4 WCC) continued to hit well against the Waves (23-11, 6-2 WCC), amassing 10 today and 29 for the three game series.

Sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin led the Dons charge at the plate, going 3-for-4 and raising his team leading batting average to an impressive .394. Senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior designated hitter Zach Kim also went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sophomore third baseman Derek Poppert singled and had an RBI. Sophomore right fielder Drew Johnson and freshman left fielder Connor Bernatz each singled in the contest.

USF was down 7-0 going into the fifth, but the Dons proceeded to score five runs over the next four innings. The rally would not be enough as the Waves scored an insurance run in the eighth, securing the 8-5 victory.

In the fifth, Kim was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then Ethel reached base on an error by Waves junior second baseman Denny Duron. Senior shortstop Tavo Hall walked to load the bases and two outs later, the Dons scored on an error by junior shortstop Chase d'Arnaud. In the sixth, with one out, Johnson singled to right and moved to third on Kim's single to right. Johnson scored on sophomore center fielder Bobby Ethel's sacrifice fly to left.

In the seventh inning, USF plated another when, with bases loaded, Kim singled to left. The Dons put up two in the eighth to make it 5-7. Senior second baseman Joey Railey walked to start the frame. Bernatz reached on another Waves error, this time by junior left fielder David Harris. Both runners moved up a bag on a wild pitch, and Railey scored when Poppert singled through the right side. Bernatz scored when the next batter, Bialosky, sacrificed to right.

Freshman left-hander Matt Lujan (4-1) took the loss for USF, throwing 3.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs off 10 hits, two walks and struck out two Waves.

Waves' freshman left-hander Matt Bywater (5-1) earned the victory, allowing three runs (two earned) off nine hits, four walks, and struck out two Dons. Junior center fielder Eric Thames had a big day at the plate for Pepperdine, going 4-for-5 with a homerun, three RBI and two runs scored.

USF returns to action Tuesday when it heads to Stanford for a mid-week match up with the Cardinal. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM.