FRESNO, Calif. - Pepperdine baseball (1-5, 0-0 WCC) had an early lead but couldn't hang on in an 11-7 loss to the Fresno State Bulldogs late Sunday afternoon.
 
"We did what we wanted to do offensively today, we just couldn't get the breakthrough hit to stretch the lead, nor get back into the game," said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre after the contest. "Credit to Fresno State pitchers for making pitches and making plays when they really needed to. They also came up with their big hits with two outs, we unfortunately couldn't. We have a tremendous opportunity to even the series tomorrow, before we head back home to take on Yale next Friday."
 
The Waves wasted no time getting on the board, as Zach Woodson chopped a ground ball to first base that was able to plate Daniel Patterson. The Bulldogs answered right away in the bottom half of the frame, knotting the game at one apiece on a Zach Plasschaert RBI single before Sky Collins gave Fresno State a 3-1 advantage on a two-RBI single. Nash Horton had a quick response in the top of the second, doubling to score James Dell'Amico and bring it back to a one-run game at 3-2, still in favor of the Cardinal and blue.
 
In the third inning, Joshua Woodworth took advantage of a fielding error by Fresno State shortstop Mikey Pickett, and Patterson touched home from second base to tie the game at three. The Bulldogs had an answer again in the bottom half of the frame, as Marcus Nolen sent a grand slam over the left field wall, and the Bulldogs suddenly had a 7-3 advantage.
 
Kai Laxa, who represented the leadoff spot in the Pepperdine lineup, went yard in the top of the fourth, and Patterson immediately ensued with his own, pulling the Waves back to within two at 7-5. Pepperdine wasn't done after that, making it a one-run game again in the fifth when Patterson peppered a single to the right-center field gap. Halfway through the contest, Fresno State was clinging to a 7-6 lead.
 
The Bulldogs would stave off the Waves for the majority of the rest of the contest. Micheal Boyd played a big role for Fresno State, doubling in a run before scoring on a wild pitch. Woodson had a RBI single for Pepperdine to attempt to close the gap, but it was too late as the Waves fell by a final of 11-7.
 
The final game of the series is tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 pm PT. Fans can watch on the Mountain West Network, available online at this link, or by downloading the Mountain West Network app on Roku, Apple TV, iOS, Google Play, and Amazon Fire TV. The contest will also be available in audio format through the Varsity Network app, free to download on mobile devices.
 
GAME NOTES

• Each squad finished with 12 hits.
• Fresno State committed three errors, while Pepperdine had one.
• Four Waves had a multi-hit game.
• The top four in the Pepperdine lineup (Laxa, Patterson, Woodson, and Julian Nunez) combined to go 7-for-16 (.438) with four RBI and a pair of walks.

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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