Final Stats | Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - The Pepperdine baseball team got a dominant pitching performance from sophomore A.J. Puckett on Saturday to defeat Hawaii 2-0 at home.

Puckett tossed a his first career complete-game shutout, giving up just three hits and one walk to earn his second win of the year and push Pepperdine's record to 6-5 on the year.

"My fastball command was feeling really good today and whatever pitch coach called I committed 100% to and attacked downhill," said Puckett, who is now 2-1 on the year with a 2.27 ERA. "The wind was blowing in, so I got pretty lucky there and wanted to attack with the fastball. That was my best friend today."

Puckett (Danville, Calif./De La Salle HS) battled Hawaii starter L.J. Brewster for much of the game as both pitchers had shutouts going through three innings. Brewster would go 7.0 innings, giving up one earned run on five hits, but took the loss after being out-dueled by Puckett.

The Waves broke through in the fourth, getting some help from an error to extend the inning and put runners on first and third. Manny Jefferson (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS) came up with two outs and beat out a high chopper for an infield single to bring home the Waves' first run. Pepperdine added a second run in the fifth when Brad Anderson (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) singled back up the middle so score Hutton Moyer (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS) from second base.

"I always try to pitch like it's 0-0, but getting that second run does help take some pressure off," said Puckett. "Still I was just trying to keep the same mindset throughout the entire game and take it one pitch at a time. These last two wins were good for us. Now we need to come out and keep it going tomorrow."

Puckett retired the side in order through his first three innings of work and didn't allow a hit until he gave up back-to-back singles in the fourth. With runners on the corners in the fourth and two outs, the Waves' righty got his sixth strikeout of the day to end the threat.

Puckett finished with 10 strikeouts to set a new career-high. He allowed runners to get to first in both the fifth and sixth innings on a single and walk, but no Hawaii player would advance past first the rest of the way. Puckett finished the day with three-straight 1-2-3 innings to close out the win.

On the offensive end, five different players recorded hits in the game for Pepperdine.

Andrew Jones tossed one inning of relief for the Warriors, striking out one batter. Brewster finished with eight strikeouts on the day. Hawaii falls to 5-7 with the loss.

Pepperdine and Hawaii will wrap their four-game series up tomorrow at 1 p.m.