Waves Visit Tigers in Critical Road Series

STOCKTON, CALIF. – For the final road series of the season, the Pepperdine baseball team heads to Stockton, taking on the Pacific Tigers in a crucial three-game conference series.

GAME #49— Pepperdine (11-37, 6-12) vs. Pacific (18-31, 6-12) | 6:00 p.m. | Friday, May 9 | Klein Family Field | Stockton, Calif.

GAME #50— Pepperdine vs. Pacific | 6:00 p.m. | Saturday, May 10 | Klein Family Field | Stockton, Calif.

GAME #51— Pepperdine vs. Pacific | 1:00 p.m. | Sunday, May 11 | Klein Family Field | Stockton, Calif.

COVERAGE: The games will all be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required). Links to the broadcasts as well as live stats will be available at pepperdinewaves.com.

SERIES VS. PACIFIC: With the first game dating back to 1968, the Waves hold the advantage over the Tigers 27-19. Most recently, Pepperdine took the series in Malibu last season 2-1. The last conference sweep at home against any opponent happened to be against the Pacific Tigers in the 2022 season. The Waves have never swept the Tigers in Stockton as they look to keep their postseason hopes alive.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS: Tied with Pepperdine at 6-12 in conference play, Pacific was swept by Portland, Saint Mary's and Gonzaga, taking the series against LMU, San Francisco, and Santa Clara. In comparison, Pepperdine took a game from all opponents Pacific was swept by. On the offensive side, Jake Tandy and JT Waldon lead the way for the Tigers with batting averages above .300, combining for 51 RBIs. With two established starters on the mound, Jakob Guardado and Adan Perez combine for an average ERA of 6.53.

LAST TIME OUT: For the final midweek of the season, the Waves went north to SLO, facing the Cal Poly Mustangs. Out to avenge to 2-10 loss earlier in the season in Malibu, Pepperdine jumped in front early, holding onto the lead the majority of the game. WIth the Mustangs tying it and heading to the eighth in a 5-5 game, Cal Poly put up a crooked seven runs to take the lead and the game 5-12.

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 .363 batting average, including a team-high 13 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 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.

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.

Players Mentioned

Nick Upstill

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