SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Pepperdine baseball team outhit #25 UC Santa Barbara 15-11, but fell 7-5 in a close Tuesday midweek game. 
 
The Waves (12-33, 6-12) split the series with the Gauchos (32-12, 17-4) after a thrilling walk-off 10-9 win back on February 27.
 
BIG WAVES
 
Senior outfielder Connor Walsh (Niceville, Fla.) hit a double in his two hits on the day, including two RBIs.
 
Graduate infielder Brady Renck (Longmont, Colo.) tallied two RBIs and a double while going 2-for-4.
 
Senior Connor Bradshaw (New Rochelle, N.Y.) went .500 on the day with an RBI of his own.
 
RECAP
 
For the second time in four games, Renck started Pepperdine's offense in the top of the first inning with a triple. Dropping the ball in right center field, Renck was able to push for three as the ball rolled to the backstop. Walsh followed by laying a successful bunt down to the pitcher, giving the Waves a 1-0 lead by the end of the first.
 
Starting freshman RHP Jordan Cole (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was able to get out of a bases-loaded situation with a strikeout and forcing a double play to keep UCSB off the board.
 
The Gauchos would break through in the bottom of the second. Scoring two runs on one hit and stealing home, UCSB took a 2-1 lead.
 
Two hits, including a triple of their own, would give UCSB a 3-1 lead at the end of three innings.
 
Leading the fourth inning off, Bradshaw sent a single up the middle. Following in Bradshaw's lead, freshman utility player Corwin Hemmingsen (Cave Creek, Ariz.) sent one to left and put runners on the corners with no outs. Senior infielder Charles Masino (Newbury Park, Calif.) sent a sac fly to left field, scoring Bradshaw and bringing the deficit to one as Pepperdine trailed 3-2 as the top of the fourth came to an end.
 
Matching the Waves' run in the top half of the inning, the Gauchos got one in the bottom of the fourth and brought the lead back to a two-run lead.
 
Tying the game, Pepperdine got two in the top of the fifth. Singles by graduate outfielder Nick Upstill (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and sophomore catcher Beckett Vine (Houston, Texas) put the leadoff runners on first and second. Junior designated hitter Justin Rubin was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Renck was next up, sending a sac fly into right, scoring Upstill. Following the score, Bradshaw sent a single up the middle to score Vine, tying the game 4-4 by the middle of the fifth inning.
 
UCSB responded immediately with two runs of their own, taking a 6-4 lead by the end of the fifth inning.
 
Adding another run in the bottom of the sixth on two hits, the Gauchos had a 7-4 lead going into the final three innings.
 
Pepperdine's valiant effort at a comeback fell short in the top of the ninth inning. Two singles by Upstill and Sheehan put two on with one out. Renck's second hit of the day was a double down the right field line, scoring Upstill. The rally would end there.
 
Losing the second game of the two-game series, Pepperdine split the series.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Waves host the last home series of the year against Portland in a three-game weekend beginning Friday May 10.