Final Stats

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. -- The Pepperdine baseball team got a walk-off single from Aaron Barnett in the bottom of the ninth to score a 3-2 victory over Santa Clara in West Coast Conference play.

The Waves tied the game up in the sixth inning and then loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth to set up Barnett's game-winning hit. The victory moves Pepperdine to 18-17 overall and 8-5 in WCC action, helping the Waves keep pace in the top four of the conference standings.

"This is a great way to start the series," said head coach Steve Rodriguez. "We've been playing good baseball lately and I was happy with the way we competed on the mound and at the plate today. We were just waiting for that big hit and Aaron came through for us."

With one out in the ninth, Chris Fornaci (Walnut Creek, Calif./De La Salle HS) worked a leadoff walk and Hutton Moyer (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS) followed with a base hit that took a wild hop to find its way through the infield and put runners on first and third. After Brad Anderson (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) was issued an intentional walk to load the bases, Barnett (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS) slapped a single into left field to score Fornaci and end the contest.

Fornaci led the game off with a home run in the bottom of the first for the Waves, giving him his second leadoff homer in as many games and sixth long ball overall. Santa Clara answered with two runs in the second and would take the lead into the sixth inning.

Pepperdine had runners on first and third in the sixth and Manny Jefferson (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS) laid down the squeeze bunt to bring home Matt Gelalich (La Verne, Calif./Bonita HS) who dove into home just ahead of the tag.

"We're kind of in a tight race with a few other teams right now, so this is a good win for us to get against a tough opponent," said Barnett. "I just tried to stay calm and get a good pitch to hit in the ninth there. I fouled one off with the runners going and after that I just made sure to stay aggressive and have a good at-bat."

Chandler Blanchard (Henderson, Nev./Coronado HS) picked up the win in relief for the Waves, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. Jackson McClelland (Beaumont, Calif./Redlands East Valley HS) got the start and went 7.0 innings for the Waves, giving up six hits and two earned runs in the no-decision.

"Our pitchers really kept us in this and allowed us to pick up the win," said Barnett. "Jackson threw seven strong like he always does, and then Chandler just came out and made good pitches and put up zeroes. Thankfully we were able to stick with it and come through in the end."

The Waves also threw out a pair of runners at home in the eighth inning to keep the game tied heading to the final frame, with Gelalich ending the inning by tossing out a tagging runner to end the inning.

Barnett and Gelalich were each 2-for-4 at the plate and both teams had eight hits on the day. Stevie Berman had a two-hit day for the Broncos and Mitchell White took the loss for Santa Clara after issuing the walk to Fornaci in the ninth.

The two teams will continue their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Eddy D. Field Stadium.