LOS ANGELES, Calif.- After being tied through two, the Pepperdine baseball team lost control of the game in the third inning in the midweek loss.
 
Despite out-hitting the Bruins (23-5) 13-12, the Waves (6-22) could not climb out of the seven-run hole after the third, losing 8-13.
 
BIG WAVES
 
Graduate outfielder Nick Upstill (Huntington Beach, Calif.) got a hit in his ninth consecutive game as well as having two nice grabs defensively in left field.
 
Junior LHP Cade Barry (Simi Valley, Calif.) through 2.0 IP allowed just two hits with no runs, striking out two.
 
Redshirt sophomore outfielder Joe Cardinale (Salinas, Calif.) went .500 at the plate with three singles on the night.
 
 
RECAP
 
The home team took the lead early, scoring two in the bottom of the first. Responding in the top of the second, the Waves evened the game up at 2-2. Starting with a single from senior infielder Justin Rubin (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), he found his way to third after stealing second and advancing on a failed pickoff attempt by the defense. With runners at the corners after redshirt sophomore Max Bernal (Clovis. Calif.) walked, senior utility player Andrew Savage (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) hit a sacrifice fly to score Rubin and the Waves were on the board. Shortly after, bases were loaded thanks to another walk and a single by junior catcher Max Aude (Woodland Hills, Calif.) which allowed Cardinale to advance all the runners 90 feet, scoring Bernal to tie it up at 2-2.
 
UCLA broke the game open in the bottom half of the third inning, scoring seven on four hits, including a three-run home run. The Waves were able to get two back in the fourth and sixth inning to lessen the deficit to five, but the Bruins put the Waves back down seven with two scored in the sixth. With three innings to go, #14 UCLA led 11-4.
 
Freshman infielder Danny Cook (Monument, Colo.) got his first hit of the night in the sixth, sparking the offense to get one run back on the home team.
 
With the Bruins getting the run right back plus one, Pepperdine had work to do, heading to the ninth down 5-13. Scoring three runs on three hits, including a double by freshman outfielder Joey Damelio (San Mateo, Calif.) the Waves were gaining momentum, but could not complete the comeback, falling 8-13.
 
 
 
NEXT
 
The Pepperdine Waves welcome the Broncos of Santa Clara to Malibu for a three-game series this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday and the games will be streamed all weekend on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live stats available at www.pepperdinewaves.com.