SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Pepperdine baseball team came up one-short and fell 7-6 in the rubber match against San Diego on Sunday afternoon at Fowler Park.
The Waves (7-18, 2-7) trailed early on against the Toreros (11-14-1, 5-4), but cut the deficit to two in the top of the fourth inning. San Diego was able to extend the lead to 7-3 heading into the final frame, but Pepperdine did not give up and was able to bring in three runs and bring the score within one before getting retired on a ground ball.
BIG WAVES
- Graduate student infielder Greg Mehlhaff (Gresham, Ore./Clackamas HS) was 2-for-4 on the day and had one RBI.
- Sophomore infielder Devon Walczykowski (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Jesuit HS) had a double and a walk. Walczykowski also had two RBI.
- Sophomore pinch hitter Cam Conley (Lincoln University, Pa./Malvern Prep) got the Waves within two after an RBI single in the top of the ninth.
- Senior catcher Quintt Landis (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian HS) had one hit, which extends his hitting streak to eight games and has now reached base in 10 straight games.
- Junior outfielder Lincoln Orellana (Apple Valley, Calif./Sheldon HS/Hawai'i/American River College) had one hit and a walk. Orellana is now on a five-game hitting streak and has reached base in 11 straight games.
- Freshman designated hitter Jack Basseer (Pleasanton, Calif./Foothill HS) had one hit on the day and extended his hitting and on-base streak to five games.
- Junior RHP Zach Chonkich (Redlands, Calif./Redlands HS) threw a career-high 2.2 innings in relief and struck out a career-high two hitters.
GAME RECAP
The Toreros took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning after a sac fly to left and a two-run home run, 3-0. After a scoreless second inning, San Diego added another run in the bottom of the third inning, 4-0. In the top of the fourth,
Lincoln Orellana and
Quintt Landis hit back-to-back singles through the right side.
Devon Walczykowski then smacked a double down to left field cutting the deficit in half, 4-2.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, San Diego added another run after being hit by a pitch with bases loaded, 5-2. Another scoreless inning for both squads brought the Waves to the top of the seventh. With two outs,
Ryan Johnson (Tempe, Ariz./Seton Catholic HS) drew a walk on four straight balls.
John Peck (Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark HS) then sent a double off the right center field wall that brought Johnson home, 5-3. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Toreros added two runs on two hits to make it 7-3.
Johnson and Peck led off the top of the ninth inning with back-to-back walks. Orellana also drew a walk which loaded the bases. After the first out,
Charles Masino had a smart at-bat and also earned a walk, which brought in a run to make it 7-4 still in favor of USD.
Cam Conley stepped into the box for the first time as a pinch hitter and sent a single through the left side to get the Waves within two, 7-5. Mehlhaff then hit a sac fly deep to right field that brought in another run to make it 7-6. The Toreros' first baseman had a quick glove and scooped up the final out of the game to retire the Waves and collect the series.
NOTABLE
- Junior outfielder Charles Masino (Newbury Park, Calif./Oaks Christian HS) has now reached base in 12 straight games, which is a team high.
- Peck has an on-base streak of nine games.
- Johnson has reached base in eight consecutive games.
UP NEXT
The Waves will continue the road trip with a midweek at Cal Poly on Tuesday, April 4. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be live on ESPN+.