April 19, 2002

Box Score

(Malibu, CA) - Pepperdine's Chris Kelly lofted a sacrifice fly to right field to lead the Waves to a 5-4 West Coast Conference baseball victory in 12 innings against USF Friday at Eddy D. Field Stadium. San Francisco (10-32, 2-16 WCC) got a strong pitching performance from senior left-hander Jeremy Kinney, who struck out a career-high 10 batters through 9.1 innings, but once again USF's relief corps struggled.

Pepperdine (20-21, 9-5 WCC) scored two runs off a pair of hits off the Don's bullpen to snap a three-game losing streak. Kinney earned the no decision, throwing 9.1 innings of work, allowing four runs (two earned) off eight hits. Senior right-handed reliever Jesse Mena (2-3) suffered the loss for San Francisco, allowing two runs off one hit.

San Francisco jumped out to an early lead off an RBI single from senior infielder Steve Booth, scoring sophomore infielder Armand Gaerlan who also singled. Pepperdine answered back in the bottom of the frame with a solo homerun from Duke Sardinha to even the score 1-1. The Waves would add a run in the third and fifth inning.

USF erupted for a three-run sixth inning, powered by an RBI single and a couple of questionable errors set the stage for another run, followed by a sacrifice fly from Booth. Pepperdine added a run in the sixth to tie the game once again at 4-4. The score would remain deadlocked at four runs apiece until the top of the 11th when junior outfielder Ryan Sittauer launched a solo homerun to deep left field for a 5-4 lead. For Sittauer, it was his second long ball of the season.

Not to be outdone, Pepperdine's Rock Mills clubbed a solo shot to tie the score at 5-5 and the Waves would win it in the bottom of the 12th. Derek Mills (4-3) earned the win for the Waves in relief, allowing one run off six hits to go along with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.

Jacobitz led the way for the Dons offensively with a 3-for-4, RBI day, while freshman outfielder Jimmy Milkovich went 3-for-5. Sittauer finished 2-for-5 with a homerun, while Booth ended his day 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI. The Dons missed multiple scoring opportunities and stranded 13 base-runners.

USF takes on the Waves in game two on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Eddy D. Field Stadium.