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Pepperdine University Athletics

Brandon Caruso

Baseball

Pepperdine Can't Complete Comeback, Fall 6-5 at Gonzaga

May 16, 2014

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SPOKANE, Wash. - The No. 23 Pepperdine Baseball team took an early lead over Gonzaga on Friday, but a four-run fourth inning gave the Bulldogs a 6-5 win in the end.

The Waves struck first, scoring in each of the first three innings before the Bulldogs put up four runs in the fourth. A single run in the ninth was not enough to bring the Waves back. The Waves still sit 1.5 games up in the WCC standings after the loss, with two more games to play in the regular season.

Brandon Caruso (Pasadena, Calif./Loyola HS) got the Waves going with a solo-homer in the first inning as Pepperdine took an early 3-1 lead. It was Caruso's second home run of the year. Hutton Moyer (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS) hit an RBI-single in the second and then Chris Fornaci (Walnut Creek, Calif./De La Salle HS) drew a bases-loaded walk in the third.

Gonzaga needed only one hit to score its four runs in the fourth, scoring on a wild pitch and two unearned runs on an error. Mitch Gunsolus had the RBI-single for the Bulldogs.

The teams traded runs in the seventh inning, but the visitors couldn't find the comeback they needed down the stretch. Aaron Brown (Chatsworth, Calif./Chatsworth HS) homered with two outs in the ninth inning, but Pepperdine couldn't capitalize.

Brown ended the day 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Aaron Barnett (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS) was the only other Wave with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk in the game.

The Waves outhit the Zags on the day, 11-9, but gave up three unearned runs. Brandon Bailey picked up the win for Gonzaga, improving to 6-6 on the year.

Corey Miller (Laguna Niguel, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS) took the loss for the Waves, falling to 7-4 on the year. Miller tossed 6.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on eight hits.

The loss drops Pepperdine to 35-15 overall and 17-8 in conference play. Gonzaga moves to 24-26, 16-9 WCC. The Waves still need either two wins or a win and an LMU loss to clinch an outright conference title.

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