LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Pepperdine baseball (0-3, 0-0 WCC) made a furious comeback but fell in a high-scoring series finale, 8-5, against the USC Trojans on Sunday afternoon.
 
James Dell'Amico highlighted Pepperdine's valiant offensive effort, going 3-for-4 and scoring a run. He was one of three Waves to crack at least two hits, including Julian Nunez (2-for-4, two runs) and Nash Horton (2-for-4, two RBI, one run).
 
"I was really happy with the fight we showed up with today," said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre after the game. "Stewart pitched well, he just threw too many pitches in that third inning."
 
"It was good to see the bats come alive and show what we are capable of," continued LaTorre. "However, we gave up too many free passes early to overcome the deficit. Anytime you are down and come back like that, to get the tying run to the plate and make the other team use their closer for the second time in a weekend is a good sign."
 
Both teams got through the first two innings unscathed but the Trojans began the scoring in the bottom of the third. With two on, Isaac Cadena doubled down the right field line, scoring Dean Carpentier. Adrian Lopez immediately followed with a sacrifice fly to right, and it was 2-0 Trojans after three innings.
 
USC wouldn't let up in the fourth, scoring four more runs. Abbrie Covarrubias walked with the bases loaded, scoring Andrew Lamb. Then, Cadena stepped to the dish and lifted a sac fly to left, bringing in Carpentier. Kevin Takeuchi added a two-RBI single, and Covarrubias tacked on an RBI single in the sixth to make it 7-0 in favor of USC.
 
Things were looking bleak for Pepperdine headed to the seventh, but the Waves started to turn the tide back. Pepperdine was able to load the bases before Horton swung and tapped an infield single to third base, getting the Waves on the board. The Trojans decided to switch pitchers and go to their bullpen, but it didn't matter, as Kai Laxa delivered a RBI single to left field. Finley Buckner then reached on a fielding error by USC third baseman Adrian Lopez, which scored Horton and Dell'Amico. In the blink of an eye, it was a three-run game at 7-4, still in favor of USC, during the seventh-inning stretch.
 
Pepperdine wasn't done yet. In the eighth, the Waves got more traffic on the basepaths when Horton cashed in a RBI single, cutting the deficit to two at 7-5. Despite the furious comeback attempt, that would be as close as Pepperdine would get. Jack Basseer blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth for USC, and the Waves dropped the contest by a final of 8-5.
 
"Although the weekend wasn't what we wanted it to be, we got a lot of freshmen their first taste of Division one baseball," commented LaTorre. "Those opportunities, this early in the season, will pay off as they continue to develop. We are excited to get back to work this week and host UCSB before we head to Fresno to take on Fresno State."
 
GAME NOTES

• The Waves outhit USC in two of the three games this weekend, including today (10-5).
• The Trojans had four stolen bases, while Pepperdine was unable to swipe any.
• Each squad left seven on base. 

ABOUT PEPPERDINE BASEBALL
Pepperdine baseball has one of the richest traditions and success stories among mid-major baseball programs in the country. The Waves won the NCAA National Championship in 1992 and have made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances in total. Located in scenic Malibu, California, Eddy D. Field Stadium boasts one of the most remarkable views in college baseball and has seen 35 former Waves reach the MLB while seeing 41 All-American selections.
 
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