SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF – The Pepperdine baseball team travels north to San Francisco to continue West Coast Conference play this weekend against the Dons.
 
GAME #42— Pepperdine (10-31, 5-10) vs. San Francisco (17-24, 5-10) | 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 25 | Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
 
GAME #43— Pepperdine vs. San Francisco | 1:00 p.m. | Saturday, April 26 | Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
 
GAME #44— Pepperdine vs. San Francisco | 1:00 p.m. | Sunday, April 27 | Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
 
COVERAGE: The games will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). Links to the broadcasts as well as live stats will be available at pepperdinewaves.com.
 
SERIES VS. SAN FRANCISCO: Dating back to 1958, the Waves have the advantage over the Dons with an all-time record of 129-58. Most recently in the 2024 season, Pepperdine took the series in Malibu, but did not complete the sweep. The last series win in San Francisco dates back a decade to 2015, with the most recent sweep on the road coming in 1994. Sophomore Matt Queen and graduate Matt Boyer picked up the two wins at Eddy D. FIeld Stadium in the series victory.
 
SCOUTING THE DONS: San Francisco matches Pepperdine in conference play with a 5-10 record, boasting an overall of 17-24. Taking the series over Saint Mary's and Santa Clara, the Dons were swept by both Gonzaga and LMU. Offensively, senior TJ Rogers leads the San Francisco squad with a .299 batting average, scoring three in three separate games against Central Michigan earlier this year. The three probable starters on the mound for San Francisco average an ERA of 5.61.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Waves split a home-and-home with CSU Bakersfield in two midweek games this week. Defeating the Roadrunners Monday 2-1, Pepperdine went to Bakersfield Tuesday, losing 1-18.

WCC PRESEASON: Identical to last season, Pepperdine is predicted to finish seventh in the West Coast Conference this year. The whole list is as follows:
1. San Diego 2. Portland T-3. Gonzaga T-3. Saint Mary's 5. Santa Clara 6. LMU 7. Pepperdine 8. San Francisco; 9. Pacific.
 
UP WITH UPSTILL: Graduate Nick Upstill leads the Waves with a .336 batting average, including a team-high 11 extra base hits. With a .800 stolen base percentage, the Huntington Beach native is intentional when he is on base, reflected by his statistics as he leads Pepperdine in nearly all offensive categories.
 
WAVES IN THE DRAFT: In the 2019 MLB Draft, Easton Lucas was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 14th round with the 411th overall pick. He made his big league debut with the Oakland Athletics on 9/8/23 as a relieving pitcher against the Texas Rangers. Lucas has transitioned into a starter role with the Toronto Bluejays and through two starts this season, has pitched 10.1 scoreless innings.
 
In 2023, middle infielders Ryan Johnson and John Peck were both selected in the MLB Draft. Peck was the Waves' highest drafted player since 2016, having been selected in the seventh round by the Detroit Tigers. Johnson was drafted in the eighth round by the Houston Astros. This is the first time since 2010 that Pepperdine had two picks in the first eight rounds. Left handed pitcher Shane Telfer also signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks on 7/17/23.
 
Last season, Billy Cook premiered in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates, originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. 
 
POSTSEASON HISTORY:  Pepperdine won its only College World Series title in 1992 and also played in the 1979 CWS. The Waves made their 30th and most recent appearance in NCAA postseason play in 2015, advancing to the NCAA Fullerton Regional final. In 2014 Pepperdine made its first ever NCAA Super Regional after winning the San Luis Obispo Regional Tournament. The Waves eventually fell to TCU, two games to one in the best-of-three series.
 
TICKETS: Season tickets are now available for just $99! Any group inquiries for discounted rates can contact alrick.drummond@pepperdine.edu. All tickets can be purchased at tickets.pepperdinewaves.com. Register your youngster today to get exclusive perks like a JR WAVES t shirt and access to home events. Email joey.swett@pepperdine.edu for all interests.
 
ABOUT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY: Pepperdine boasts a one-of-a-kind athletic department with unprecedented success for a school of its size. The Waves have won NCAA Division I championships in five different men's sports — one of just 20 schools to have accomplished this feat — and 10 overall. Of this elite group, Pepperdine has the smallest undergraduate enrollment, is the only school without football and is the only university that has not been affiliated with a "major" conference. The Waves have won a total of 26 team or individual national championships in their history. Pepperdine has also earned the Division I-AAA All-Sports Trophy, an award based on postseason success that's given to the top non-football school, five times (most recently in back-to-back years during the 2022-23 and 2021-22). Located in scenic Malibu, California, the university overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Pepperdine, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, ranks #76 overall on U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.