MALIBU, Calif. - It was a high-scoring affair at Eddy D. Field Stadium, but the Pepperdine baseball team (2-8) came up short in a 10-8 loss to the Yale Bulldogs (3-3) Sunday afternoon.
 
"Tough way to lose a series, but I was absolutely thrilled with our ability to comeback after being down 6-0," said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre. "Casey Euper had a great start! For his first collegiate start, I am super proud of him for stepping up and giving us four quality innings. We really need to buckle down and limit our free bases. I'm confident that we will get it fixed."
 
Just like the first two games in the series, neither team cracked the scoreboard until nearly midway through the contest. It was Yale's Colin Sloan that reached on a throwing error by Waves starting pitcher Casey Euper, who botched his toss to first base on Sloan's bunt attempt, which scored Bryce Miller. The Bulldogs continued to attack via the sacrifice bunt and laid another one down that resulted in a RBI single for Jackson Hays, and it was 2-0 Bulldogs. Defensive miscues by Pepperdine aided in the inning unraveling, as a throwing error by third baseman Daniel Patterson brought in Hays, and Garrett Larson flew home all the way from first, extending Yale's lead to 4-0. Jack Dauer proceeded that by knocking a two-RBI single to deep center, and the Bulldogs were up a touchdown halfway through the game.

Max Aude BRING EM IN!#MakeWaves | @PepperdineWaves pic.twitter.com/tpzk2r0VYX

— Pepperdine Baseball (@PepperdineBASE) March 1, 2026

Pepperdine responded in a fashionable way in the bottom of the frame. The Waves were able to get some traffic on the basepaths, where they were able to create some ripples. Danny Cook sprayed a two-RBI double to deep right-center, advancing to third on the throw to home plate, and Pepperdine was in business but still facing a 6-2 deficit. Joshua Woodworth had a productive at-bat and lifted a sac fly to left, scoring LA native James Dell'Amico, cutting the deficit to three. Finley Buckner then worked a full count and eventually reached on ball four, which was a wild pitch that had Cook touching home. Following that, Kai Laxa had no plans to end the rally, topping a fastball that rolled slowly up the third base line. He was ruled out at first base, but the play was immediately challenged by LaTorre. The play underwent a lengthy review, but the call was overturned to safe, and with Julian Nunez touching home plate on the play, it was suddenly a 6-5 game before Yale escaped the inning clinging to the lead.
 
"Josh Woodworth had a great day at the plate and I loved how our pinch hitters came in ready and had very productive at bats," continued LaTorre. "We definitely have a lot to work on, but there was a lot of good that happened today and this weekend."
 
The chaos from the fifth inning briefly calmed down but picked back up in the seventh inning. Yale extended its lead back to two with a RBI single from Dauer, making it 7-5 Bulldogs. The Waves came crashing back with an answer, as Max Aude entered the game and singled to the Yale shortstop Hays, who whiffed his throw and pulled the first baseman off the bag, scoring Woodworth and advancing Aude into scoring position at second base. Laxa ensued with an infield single before Trey Dunn took advantage and scorched a double through the right-center field gap, scoring Aude from second as Laxa dashed around the diamond, touching home all the way from first. The game had been turned upside down as Pepperdine held all the momentum with an 8-7 lead. Patterson reached on another error by Hays, but the scoring stopped there for the Waves.
 
Yale responded in the top of the eighth, as Larsen lined a single to right, scoring Sloan. The game was knotted at eight going to the ninth before Pepperdine's bullpen beaned three straight Bulldogs, loading the bases up for Owen Turner, who smacked a line drive single up the middle, plating two as Yale reclaimed the lead at 10-8. The Bulldogs would survive the Waves' half of the ninth as Pepperdine fell by a final of 10-8.
 
"Our program is moving in the right direction and it is so fun to be a part of it," added LaTorre. "To see us respond after being down 6-0 and get 5 back then take the lead was so good to see. We are making strides offensively and I'm excited to see us be more consistent with our approach."
 
GAME NOTES

• The Waves' 13 hits as a team was the most in a game this season so far.
• Pepperdine tallied four doubles, also a team high in a game this season so far.
• Woodworth dazzled offensively for the Waves, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI.
• Despite the loss, Euper was efficient in his first collegiate start for the Waves. He gave up just two hits and one earned run in 4.1 innings of work, the longest of his three outings so far in 2026.

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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