MALIBU, Calif.- The Pepperdine baseball team scored three in the first, going silent the remaining eight innings in the series finale, losing 4-3.
 
With three of the four hits of the afternoon coming in the first inning, the Waves (8-23, 4-5) were shut down by the Broncos (13-15, 2-4) defense in the Sunday matinee game.
 
 
BIG WAVES
 
Senior infielder Justin Rubin (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) got a hit in the first, driving in the first run of the game.
 
Freshman infielder Danny Cook (Monument, Colo.) kept the line moving, scoring Nunez for the second RBI of the afternoon.
 
Redshirt sophomore DH Max Bernal (Clovis, Calif.) got the third and final RBI, scoring Rubin in the bottom of the first.
 
RECAP
 
Both teams came to swing on Sunday afternoon with a combined four runs being scored through the first six outs. The Broncos struck first, scoring one on two hits. Not being down for long, the Waves scored three on three hits to take the lead early. Rubin, Cook, and Bernal recorded the three RBIs on the afternoon with leadoff hitter Joe Cardinale and senior infielder Julian Nunez both reaching and eventually scoring. Just one inning into the game, Pepperdine led 3-1.
 
Offense went silent for the Waves the remainder of the game as the Broncos defense shut the Waves down, not allowing another hit until the ninth inning. Santa Clara climbed back with runs scored in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to take a 4-3 lead with three to go.
 
Despite the hit by Bernal in the ninth, Pepperdine was unable to comeback at the end of the game, losing the series finale 4-3.
 
NEXT
 
Pepperdine heads an hour up the road to UC Santa Barbara for a Tuesday midweek. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with live stats available at www.pepperdinewaves.com.