Final Stats

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. -- A.J. Puckett tossed his second complete-game shutout of the season on Friday, to lead the Waves to a 7-0 win over Saint Mary's in the opener of a three-game West Coast Conference series between the two teams.

Puckett scattered five hits and struck out seven batters, while not giving up a walk, to mow down the Gaels in less than two and a half hours. The Waves busted what started as a pitchers duel open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs to take control of the game. The win moves Pepperdine to 21-18 overall, 11-5 WCC and puts the Waves a half game back of San Francisco for second place in the conference standings. The Dons take on first-place San Diego tonight on the road. Pepperdine sits 1.5 games back of USD for first.

"A.J. just did a great job all around," said head coach Steve Rodriguez. "To throw a complete game shutout in 100 pitches is phenomenal. He didn't walk anyone, he forced contact and he got guys out early in the count. That's exactly what you want. I thought our defense was excellent behind him as well."

Puckett (Danville, Calif./De La Salle HS) battled Saint Mary's starter Johnny York through the first five innings until the Waves were able to chase the Gaels' righty in the sixth. Pepperdine loaded the bases with no outs in the inning and after a bases-loaded walk brought in the first run of the game, York was pulled. Kolten Yamaguchi (Kona, Hawai'i/Konawaena HS) then came in and laced a pinch-hit single into right to plate two more runs. Manny Jefferson (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS) followed with a sacrifice fly and Matt Gelalich (La Verne, Calif./Bonita HS) would cap the inning with a run-scoring triple as the Waves sent nine batters to plate in the sixth.

Pepperdine added two more runs in the eighth courtesy of a Josh Davis (Tulsa, Okla./Union HS) double and a Gelalich sacrifice fly, to go on top 7-0. It was more than enough for the dominant Puckett.

The Waves' sophomore starter faced just one batter over the minimum through the first five innings and worked out of his only jams in the sixth and seventh. The Gaels put two runners in scoring position in the sixth, but Brad Anderson (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) threw a runner out at home on a squeeze play and Puckett got the groundout he needed to end the inning.

Saint Mary's got runners to second and third in the seventh thanks to back-to-back singles, but another groundout and a popup would again end the threat. Puckett allowed just one hit in the final two innings as the Gaels would not threaten again.

"We competed really well against USC earlier this week, but came up just short against a very good team. So it was great for the guys to bounce back and put together some offense today," said Rodriguez. "Getting those big hits in key situations is huge, and is the key to any offense. Whether it's with the bases loaded, or with two outs, you have to come through in spots like that and we did today."

Yamaguchi finished the day 2-for-2 at the plate after entering in the sixth inning, driving in two runs for the Waves. Gelalich also had a two-RBI day, going 1-for-3 with a triple and a sacrifice fly. Puckett moves to 5-4 with the win. The Waves have won nine of their last 10 WCC contests.

York took the loss for the Gaels, falling to 5-4 on the year. Saint Mary's falls to 20-17 overall and 6-10 in WCC play.

The teams continue their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Malibu. That game can be seen live on WaveCasts.