MALIBU, Calif. - The Pepperdine baseball team played toe-to-toe with Villanova until a three-run home run in the fifth inning separated them for the remainder of the game.

Pepperdine (3-11) could not find its offense in time as Villanova (3-9) would be up by four runs going into the bottom of the fifth. The Waves got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth, but it would not be enough as the Wildcats found three more runs in the top of the ninth, winning 7-2.

BIG WAVES
Senior outfielder Charles Masino (Newbury Park, Calif.) had a leadoff triple in the seventh inning, his first of the season.

Sophomore RHP Nick Bonn (Laguna Beach, Calif.) threw for 5.0 innings, recording five strikeouts.
 
Redshirt senior Connor Walsh (Niceville, Fla.) went 1-for-3 on the day, while tabbing one of the Waves' RBIs. 
 
RECAP
The first two innings would unfold with little action and no runs scored. Villanova struck first in the top of the third, scoring on a Pepperdine error. Damage would be limited to only one run as Bonn would produce a pair of fly balls to end the inning.

After another scoreless inning, the fifth would be a different story. Two singles and one out for the Wildcats, Jason Neff knocked a three-run home run over the wall, extending the lead to 4-0.
 
The Waves answered immediately, with singles from junior outfielder Luke Pemberton (Boulder, Colo.), sophomore catcher Beckett Vine (Houston, Texas), and a roller down the right field line from Connor Walsh to score Pemberton. Junior infielder Jacob Rebrook (The Woodlands, Texas) would keep the momentum going with a single to center field before senior outfielder Connor Bradshaw (New Rochelle, N.Y.) reached first on a fielder's choice, scoring Vine. The Waves ended the fifth inning cutting the Wildcat lead in half, trailing 4-2.
 
Villanova hit two back-to-back home runs in the top of the ninth to extend their lead and win the game 7-2.
 
UP NEXT
Pepperdine is back at Eddy D. Field Stadium tomorrow at 1 p.m. for game two against Villanova.