Final Stats

Box Score

MALIBU, California " Portland's two solo home runs, one of which came in the top of the 10th inning, proved to be the difference in a pitchers' duel as the Pepperdine baseball team fell 2-1 in Friday's first game of a crucial season-ending West Coast Conference series.

The first-place Waves (28-21, 16-9) are looking to wrap up a WCC title this weekend but their two-game lead could be down to one by the end of the night, pending the results of the Gonzaga and Saint Mary's games. Portland improved to 22-28, 11-14.

Pepperdine had its chances, collecting seven hits and nine walks, but the Waves left 13 runners on base and the Pilots turned two double plays.

BIG WAVES

• Junior RF Matthew Kanfer (Playa Del Rey, Calif./L.A.C.E.S.) and redshirt freshman 1B Brandt Belk (Houston, Texas/Westside HS) both had a pair of hits.
• Junior CF Jordan Qsar (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla HS) reached base in four of his five appearances, including an RBI double in the third inning plus three walks.
• In a no-decision, freshman RHP Cooper Chandler (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland HS) went six innings and gave up five hits, one run and one walk while striking out three.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Waves got on the board first when Belk led off the bottom of the third inning with a single. After an out, Qsar smashed a double off the right-center-field wall, which allowed Belk to score all the way from first.

Portland quickly tied the game in the top of the fourth inning, as Ryan Hoogerwerf hit a solo home run over the left-field wall to start the frame.

The Waves put at least one runner on base every inning but wouldn't be able to push any more runs across. They had the bases loaded in the fifth with one out before a double play, and put runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh inning before the Pilots got out of the jam.

Chandler and reliever Kiko Garcia were outstanding for much of the game on the mound. The pair combined to retire 16 consecutive Pilot hitters at one point, which included all of the fifth through ninth innings.

But with two outs in the top of the 10th, Portland's Tate Budnick hit a solo homer to left field, putting the Pilots ahead. The Waves would get a runner to second base with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but no further.

UP NEXT

Game two of the series will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. Game three, which is the regular-season finale and Senior Day, is Sunday at 1 p.m. Fans can watch both games via TheW.tv.