Pepperdine Stumbles in Series Opener at Arizona

Thursday, March 6

Tucson, Ariz.

5:00 p.m.

Pepperdine University

3-11

Arizona

8-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Pepperdine	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	6	2
Arizona	2	0	0	3	0	0	2	0	X	7	12	0

3/6/2025 8:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

By: by Pepperdine Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Pepperdine baseball team got the offense going too late in the opening night of a four game series at Hi Corbett Field in Arizona.

The Waves (3-11) had just two hits in the first seven innings while the Wildcats (8-4) took the lead early and never looked back.

BIG WAVES

Freshman catcher Esteban Sepulveda (Lancaster, Calif.) had an extra-base hit on the night, batting an average of .600 on the season.

Graduate outfielder Nick Upstill (Huntington Beach, Calif.) hit the second Waves' triple this season to ignite the offense in the eighth inning and score the first run.

RECAP

With no hits until the third inning, Pepperdine's offense was stifled early against Arizona. Contrastingly, Arizona scored early with two in the bottom of the first inning.

Things were quiet on both squads for the following two innings, but a double from senior infielder Cam Conley (Lincoln University, Pa.) in the top of the third gave his team the first hit of the night. With Conley stranded to end the inning, Pepperdine remained scoreless through three.

The Waves did not have another baserunner until redshirt sophomore outfielder Joe Cardinale (Salinas, Calif.) singled in the top of the sixth inning. With Pepperdine stranding the second base runner of the night, the deficit had grown to five runs.

Arizona tacked on another two in the bottom of the seventh inning before Pepperdine broke through to get on the board in the top of the eighth. Sepulveda hit a lead off double to kickstart the inning, followed by Upstill's triple for Pepperdine to avoid the shutout. A sacrificial flyout by Conley scored Upstill and even with the third base runner stranded on the night, the Waves cut the Wildcats' lead to five in a 7-2 game.

Pepperdine could not continue the offensive swing in the ninth, falling short of the comeback and losing the opening game of the series 7-2.

NEXT

Pepperdine is back for game two against the Wildcats at Hi Corbett Field tomorrow at 5 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). Live stats can be found at www.pepperdinewaves.com.