SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – In the final midweek game of the season, the Pepperdine baseball team heads north to San Luis Obispo, taking on the Mustangs of Cal Poly.
 
GAME #48— Pepperdine (11-36, 6-12) vs. Cal Poly (31-15, 18-6) | 5:00 p.m. | Tuesday, May 6 | Baggett Stadium | San Luis Obispo, Calif.
 
COVERAGE: The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). Links to the broadcasts as well as live stats will be available at pepperdinewaves.com.
 
SERIES VS. CAL POLY:  All time, the Waves hold the series advantage over the Mustangs 15-12. Cal Poly won the matchup earlier this year at Eddy D. Field Stadium 10-2 as the Waves look to even the series on the season.The last win over Cal Poly came in 2023, defeating the Mustangs both in Malibu and SLO, holding the opponent to just three runs each time out.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: With six players batting over .300, the Mustangs have no issues getting the offense off and running. Alejandro Garza leads the squad with a .361 average, followed closely behind by Nate Castellon with a .358. The duo is good for 129 hits and 77 RBIs. Since coming to Malibu, Cal Poly is 16-7, including splitting two games with WCC-foe Santa Clara.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Hosting a non-conference series against Northwestern State this weekend, the Waves went 0-3 against the Demons. Sunday, senior day, was the most offense produced by either side all weekend with a 12-15 final where senior Luke Pemberton (Boulder, Colo.) had an outstanding defensive game with his first home run of the year on the offensive side of the ball.

WCC STANDINGS: With the top six teams headed to the conference tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., the Waves have some climbing to do. Currently tied for seventh, Pepperdine has a pivotal three-game series this weekend against Pacific. There is potential to clinch a postseason berth, but a variety of pieces would have to fall just right. So far, only San Diego and Gonzaga have clinched tournament appearances, with the final four spots to be claimed over the next two weekends
 
UP WITH UPSTILL: Graduate Nick Upstill leads the Waves with a .352 batting average, including a team-high 12 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 Blue Jays 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 Pittburgh Pirates, orignially 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.