Final Stats

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. -- The Pepperdine baseball team clinched a spot in the West Coast Conference tournament for the third straight year on Friday, beating Pacific 6-0 to secure the playoff berth.

The Waves got another dominant eight-inning performance from A.J. Puckett on the mound and broke the game open in the sixth inning thanks to a Chris Fornaci home run. Pepperdine is now 27-21 overall, 15-10 WCC with the win, while Pacific falls to 21-29, 11-14 WCC. The Tigers were eliminated from postseason contention with the loss.

"Making the WCC Tournament was one of our goals at the start of the season. Getting there and then winning it is what we set out to do," said Pepperdine Head Coach Rick Hirtensteiner. "A.J. has pitched tremendously all year long and they had a few chances at him early, but he just shut them down and got out of a few jams. After that, he just kept getting better and they didn't come close to scoring on him after the third."

The Waves got on the board in the third inning, breaking a scoreless tie with an Aaron Barnett (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS) single to left field. He brought home Matt Gelalich (La Verne, Calif./Bonita HS) after a leadoff single. Pepperdine added a second run in the fourth, with Chase Lambert (Malibu, Calif./Malibu HS) this time leading off the inning with a single and Gelalich later bring him home with a grounder through the right side.

The Waves broke the game open in the sixth inning, putting up three runs thanks to a Fornaci (Walnut Creek, Calif./De La Salle HS) shot to left. It was his fourth long ball of the year. Pepperdine had a chance to add more in the frame, but left the bases loaded. Gelalich added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it a 6-0 game.

"We were up by two (going into the sixth inning), which isn't a huge lead, but with A.J. on the mound, you think it might hold up," said Hirtensteiner. "Fornaci's homer is a big hit, though. It gives you more breathing room. You score three runs with one swing of the bat, it's huge."

After giving up four hits through three innings, Puckett (Danville, Calif./De La Salle HS) settled in and didn't allow a hit for the next four frames, retiring 10 batters in a row at one point. He tossed 8.0 innings, giving up five hits and no runs to move to 9-3 on the year. Puckett struck out four batters and walked just one. It was his seventh outing of the year without giving up an earned run as he ends the regular season with a 1.07 ERA.

Fornaci's three RBI led the team and Lambert posted a three-hit day for the Waves. Gelalich was also 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.

Pacific's Will Lydon took the loss to fall to 3-9 on the year. Danny Mayer and Lucas Halstead each posted two hits for the visitors.

The Waves and Tigers will continue their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Malibu. That game can be seen live on TheW.tv. Seeding for the WCC tournament is still to be determined over the course of the weekend. Gonzaga, BYU, Saint Mary's and the Waves have all clinched spots in the four-team tournament.