MALIBU, Calif. - The Pepperdine baseball team fell in its conference home opener to San Diego by a final of 1-5 Friday evening at Eddy D. Field Stadium. With the loss, the Waves dropped to 6-18 overall and 2-2 in WCC action, while the Toreros improved to 9-15 overall and 2-2 in WCC play.
 
Casey Euper (1-3) was given the loss and San Diego's Diego Gutierrez (3-2) earned the win.

"San Diego out competed us today," said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre. "I give them a lot of credit. They beat us in every facet of the game. Casey Euper bounced back after a long first inning to give us some good innings, but we failed him on defense in the 5th inning."
 
The Toreros opened the scoring in the top of the first on a RBI double by Andrew Gauna, bringing in Jayden Lobliner. Pepperdine answered right away in the bottom of the first. With two out and nobody on, Daniel Patterson tanked his team-leading seventh home run of the campaign well over the left field netting, tying the game at one.
 
Neither team could break the knot until San Diego put up a three-spot in the top of the fifth, starting with Gabe Springer scoring all the way from first base on a couple of Waves errors. A ground ball hit to first base by CJ Morgan turned into a throwing error by James Dell'Amico after he drilled Springer in the back trying to turn a double play at second base. Dell'Amico's throw spilled off of Springer into medium-deep left field, allowing Springer to get up and dash to third before AJ Bianchina's throw from the outfield skipped away from Patterson, letting Springer get to the dish. Gauna crushed a two-run dinger not long after that, and it was 4-1 Toreros.

We'd admire it too 😎 https://t.co/pbHwBPNU8t pic.twitter.com/h6YW1OAvd9

— Pepperdine Baseball (@PepperdineBASE) March 27, 2026

Pepperdine's offense was relatively quiet following Patterson's first-inning blast. The Waves produced threats in the third (runners on corners, one out), fifth (two on, two out), and seventh (runner on second, two out) innings but couldn't touch home. Gutierrez surrendered just three hits in his five innings of work for San Diego, and the Toreros' bullpen was dynamite, halting the Waves to one hit in the last four innings as Pepperdine fell 5-1.

"We are looking to wash this one away and move onto Saturday where we can even the series," LaTorre said.
 
GAME NOTES

• Each team recorded four walks
• Julian Nunez had two of Pepperdine's four hits.
• The top of the order for the Waves (Laxa, Nunez, Patterson) combined to go 4-for-11 with a walk.
• Pepperdine stranded eight on the basepaths while San Diego left nine.

Pepperdine will play game two of the series tomorrow, which is scheduled for a 2:00 pm first pitch. Tommy Scavone will be handed the ball for the Waves, going up against the Toreros scheduled starter Fernando Palencia. Fans can purchase tickets here or watch the game live on ESPN+.

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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