MALIBU, Calif. - The Pepperdine baseball team struggled to get anything going offensively, scoring the one and only run in the seventh inning in a 9-1 loss to California State Northridge.
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The Waves (12-25, 6-6) left 11 on base, struggling to capitalize with runners in scoring position.
With nine hits, the Madators (20-14, 8-4) placed the ball perfectly throughout the game and with the help of a home run in the seventh, scored nine runs to take the midweek matchup.
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BIG WAVES
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Graduate outfielder
Nick Upstill (Huntington Beach, Calif.) went 2-for-3 today, the only one of the Waves with a multi-hit game.
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Junior infielder
Julian Nunez (Encinitas, Calif.) recorded a hit and turned two double plays defensively.
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RECAP
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CSUN jumped ahead early, recording three runs off three singles to take a 3-0 lead by the middle of the first inning.
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Offense on both sides of the ball did not produce for the next five innings. Upstill got the first hit of the day for the Waves in the bottom of the second, but it did not translate to a run as he was left stranded on third. A combined six pitchers kept runs off the scoreboard until the seventh inning.
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A two run home run over the left field wall by CSUN's Conner Stewart gave the Matadors a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning.Â
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Trying to keep Pepperdine in the game, senior
Charles Masino got the Waves' second hit of the day in the bottom of the seventh with a single to center field and put runners on the corners after Upstill reached first on a walk. Getting hit by a pitch, junior
Luke Pemberton (Boulder, Colo.) took first and the bases were loaded. With junior infielder
Justin Rubin (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) up to bat, he took a wild pitch that would score Upstill from third, erasing the CSUN hopes of a shutout. The inning would end with three Waves stranded and the Madators up 5-1.
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Getting three more hits throughout the next two innings, CSUN added four insurance runs.
Pepperdine could not muster up a rally, falling 9-1 Tuesday afternoon.
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UP NEXT
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The Waves stay at home this weekend, facing the San Diego Toreros in a critical conference series.
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THE STANDINGS
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- Portland                     8-1                  .889                22-11              .667
- Gonzaga                    10-2                .833                14-18              .434
- Saint Mary's               6-3                  .667                21-13              .618
- San Diego                  8-4                  .667                22-12              .647
- Pepperdine               6-6                  .500                12-24              .333
- Santa Clara                6-6                  .500                18-15              .545
- LMUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2-10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â .167Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14-23Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â .378
- San Francisco            1-8                  .111                17-19              .472   Â
- Pacific                        1-8                  .111                6-29               .171