SPOKANE, Wash. – The Pepperdine baseball team couldn't finish a comeback and fell, 7-4 to #24 Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference series finale on Sunday afternoon at Patterson Baseball Complex.
The Waves (15-11, 5-4) were held scoreless until the sixth inning when they scored two runs, but the Zags (18-7, 7-2) had already built a 6-0 lead. Gonzaga clinched the series 2-1.
BIG WAVES
- Freshman catcher Cole Sheehan (Phoenix, Ariz,/Mountain Pointe HS) had a career-high two hits, including a triple, and scored two runs.
- Sophomore outfielder Charles Masino (Newbury Park, Calif./Oaks Christian HS) had one hit on the day and two RBI.
- Sophomore infielder John Peck (Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark HS) had a hit and an RBI on the day.
- Sophomore infielder Nolan Lingley (Tracy, Calif./Ripon Christian School) hit his first career home run to left field.
GAME RECAP
The Bulldogs got out ahead early in the bottom of the second inning, taking a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Gonzaga built onto its lead with another run making it 4-0. The Zags added two more runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 6-0.
The Waves started to piece some hits together in the top of the sixth inning. Sheehan hit a single to center with one out.
Zach Chonkich (Redlands, Calif./Redlands HS) advanced Sheehan to second on a single to left field. Sheehan and Chonkich advanced to second and third on a Zags' passed ball. Masino smacked a single to center field to score the Waves' first run and make it 6-1. Peck hit a deep sacrifice fly ball to center field that scored Chonkich and made it 6-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Gonzaga scored on a single to right field and increased their lead at 7-2.
In the top of the eighth inning, Lingley took the first pitch out of the park over the left field wall to make it 7-3. The hitting was contagious and Sheehan roped a triple to right center. With one out, a Waves' ground ball to the shortstop scored Sheehan to collect the fourth run at 7-4.
Gonzaga clinched the series win in the top of the ninth inning with three straight outs.
UP NEXT
Pepperdine will be back on its home turf on Tuesday, April 5 hosting UC Santa Barbara. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the game will be streamed on the WCC Network.