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Pepperdine University Athletics

Collin Valentine
Greg Bintz
2
Pepperdine PEPP 10-20
9
Winner Gonzaga GONZ 14-14
Pepperdine PEPP
10-20
2
Final
9
Gonzaga GONZ
14-14
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Pepperdine PEPP 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 5 0
Gonzaga GONZ 0 4 1 2 0 1 0 1 X 9 18 1

W: Feld, Justin (3-0) L: Valentine, Collin (1-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Greg Bintz

Baseball Falls Behind Early, Drops Contest to Gonzaga

SPOKANE, Wash. - An early deficit was too much to overcome as the Pepperdine baseball team (10-20, 5-3 WCC) fell to Gonzaga (14-14, 5-3 WCC) by a final of 9-2 on Friday night.
 
"It just wasn't our day today and that's baseball sometimes," said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre after the game. "Credit to Gonzaga for coming out ready to play. Collin Valentine competed as best he could, but their hits were finding holes and gaps today. I need to do a better job of keeping our hitters focused on the approach at the plate. Gonzaga's pitching staff did a great job of keeping us off balance, but we have a group of hitters who will come out ready to fight back tomorrow."
 
It was a tough night for Waves starting pitcher Collin Valentine, who was unable to make it through the second inning after surrendering four runs (all earned) on eight hits. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the second inning, capped by a RBI single by Ricky Sanchez.
 
Gonzaga tacked on another run in the third via a RBI single by Hudson Shupe, before Ryder Young and Maddox Haley added RBI singles to make it 7-0 Gonzaga after four innings. Pepperdine cut into the deficit in the fifth thanks to a RBI single by Julian Nunez and a RBI groundout by Finley Buckner, pulling the Waves within five at 7-2.  
Pepperdine's offense ultimately sputtered throughout the game, tallying only five hits as Gonzaga added insurance in the sixth and eighth innings on a wild pitch and RBI single, respectively. The 9-2 loss for the Waves ended the team's four-game winning streak, although the blue and orange sit in a three-way tie (alongside Portland and Gonzaga) for second place in the WCC following Friday's action around the conference.
 
"We showed a little bit of life with 2 runs in the 5th to get some momentum, which was great to see," continued LaTorre. "We have a chance to win another series tomorrow against a quality opponent on the road. We will be ready to compete."
 
GAME NOTES
  • Pepperdine was outhit 18-5.
  • Nunez had two of the Waves' hits.
  • Gabe Maya tossed 1.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Pepperdine.
The Waves will try for the series win again tomorrow with a 1:00pm PT scheduled first pitch. The contest can be seen 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.
 
TICKETS
For more information and to purchase tickets to upcoming home events, visit here.
 
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