MALIBU, Calif. - An all-around dominant team performance put the Pepperdine baseball team (7-19, 3-2 WCC) back in the win column with a 3-0 blanking of San Diego (9-16, 2-3 WCC) Saturday afternoon.
 
Tommy Scavone was otherworldly in the contest, allowing just two hits in six innings worked, marking the third consecutive start he's gone at least a half-dozen innings. He walked only one and sat down eight in 20 batters faced, needing only 90 pitches to do so. Jack Fowler relieved Scavone in the seventh and eighth, going two scoreless while holding the Toreros hitless. Lucien Wechsberg slammed the door shut in the ninth, working around a walk to tally his third save of the 2026 campaign.
 
"Great baseball game!" said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre following the contest. "Tommy Scavone has gone back to back weeks of six strong innings and is pitching really well. He did such a good job of bouncing back after quite a few pitches in the first inning and getting out of a 2nd and 3rd, no-out jam. To put up a zero in that situation was game changing. Jack Fowler came in and did his job very well, throwing two incredible innings to get us to the ninth and hand the ball over to Lucien Wechsberg."
 
It was scoreless through the first three-and-a-half innings before the Waves got on the board thanks to a no-doubt bomb from Trey Dunn, who sent one over the left field netting to put Pepperdine in front 2-0.
 
"Offensively, we got a bunch of runners on and tried to manufacture, but just couldn't get the big hit to break the game open," LaTorre said. "However, we were close. Trey Dunn put a great swing on that pitch to get us out to the 2-0 lead with his homerun."

NOT TODAY, SAYS @joe43044 !!! 😤

What robbery of a home run!! More than worthy of a @SportsCenter #SCTop10 nomination 😎@WCCsports | @espn | @NCAABaseball

📺 ESPN+#MakeWaves | @PepperdineWaves pic.twitter.com/yB3NaXgGra

— Pepperdine Baseball (@PepperdineBASE) March 28, 2026

Besides Dunn's homer, the scoring threats were few and far between. San Diego had the bases loaded with two out in the first but Scavone got out of the jam with a strikeout. USD had another runner on second with two out in the second frame but couldn't cash in. The Toreros came close to scoring on a solo home run in the third inning but Joe Cardinale went into Superman mode, scaled the wall, and robbed CJ Moran in a SportsCenter Top-10 worthy play.
 
The navy blue and orange didn't have much going either after Dunn's dinger until the sixth when Kai Laxa knocked a leadoff double down the left field line. The Waves had runners at second and third after Shawn Romero's sacrifice bunt but couldn't bring in Laxa or Danny Cook, who had reached on a fielding error. Pepperdine was able to deposit an insurance run in the seventh, as Julian Nunez roped a leadoff double before touching home on a passed ball two batters later.
 
"Joe Cardinale's play in center field was amazing today as well," continued LaTorre. "Not only the robbing of the homerun, but he was tracking down balls all day. I was also impressed with freshman catcher Shawn Romero handling the game behind the plate with receiving and his blocking. Excited to get back to Eddy D. Field Stadium tomorrow for the rubber match."
 
Wechsberg had to throw 21 pitches in the ninth and work around a one-out walk to Andrew Gauna but closed out the contest for the Waves, as Pepperdine took game two of the series in shutout fashion, 3-0.
 
GAME NOTES

• The victory marked Pepperdine's first home shutout since Feb 16, 2024 against Utah (1-0).
• It was also the first home WCC shutout for Pepperdine since March 24, 2023 (vs. Gonzaga, 15-0)
• The Waves' pitching staff surrendered just two hits, the fewest in a game since Feb. 16, 2024 (vs. Utah, 2 hits)
• Each Wave in the two through seven spots in the lineup had at least one hit.
• Pepperdine stranded nine while the Toreros left six.
• Each squad had three walks.
• The Waves chased USD starting pitcher Fernando Palencia out of the game after just 3.1 innings, working him to the tune of a whopping 72 pitches. Pepperdine averaged 5.14 pitches in each official at-bat against Palencia.

Pepperdine will attempt to take the series in tomorrow's rubber match, scheduled for a 1:00 pm PT start. It's Bark in the Park day. Anyone who brings their pup must have it on a leash. Get your tickets here or catch the game 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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