Wednesday, May 20
Scottsdale, Ariz.
7:00 pm PT
Pepperdine University
21-33
2
vs
9
Saint Mary's
31-24
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's CA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 2 |
| Pepperdine | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Photo by: Greg Bintz
Baseball Season Closes with Loss to Saint Mary's
5/21/2026 12:31:00 AM | Baseball
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Pepperdine baseball team (21-33) fell to the Santa Clara Broncos (31-24) by a final of 9-2 Wednesday night.
"What a tough way to end our season," said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre. "Casey Euper was absolutely amazing tonight! Dylan Stewart came and did his job brilliantly. This game, however, isn't indicative of the progress we've made as a program. I am so proud of our players and the work they put in this year. They changed the trajectory of our Waves Baseball Program for years to come."
The Waves were able to get on the board early thanks to James Dell'Amico's sac fly to plate Trey Dunn, and Pepperdine took a 1-0 lead after two innings. Fast forward to the fifth, and Max Aude powdered a fastball to the deepest part of the ballpark in dead center. It banged off the wall and Dell'Amico scored after reaching on an error to begin the frame. Things were looking good for Pepperdine through the first seven innings.
The Waves displayed otherworldly defense throughout the contest, beginning in the top of the second with Kai Laxa's highlight-reel stab up the middle and a dime of a throw to first base to get starter Casey Euper out of the inning. Euper worked out of several jams, including a situation with two runners on and only one out for the Gaels in the fifth.
The game unfortunately fell apart for Pepperdine after the seventh. Saint Mary's began the eighth having recorded just three hits in the first seven frames, but racked up seven against Lucien Wechsberg in the eighth inning. The Gaels put up a crooked number, scoring eight runs (all earned) off Wechsberg - who was dominant almost all season with a career-high 10 saves - and tacking on another against Gabe Maya.
"It was great to score first and to add another, but we didn't capitalize on other opportunities to extend the lead further," added LaTorre. "Against a team like Saint Mary's and their highly potent offense, you have to keep scoring and we didn't."
Despite the loss, the Waves still finished with 21 wins, the most since 2022. Pepperdine also won 15 conference games, more than any other year since 2018. The Waves were picked to finish ninth in the conference in the WCC preseason poll and finished fourth, also the best finish since 2018.
GAME NOTES
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.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine baseball news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineBASE.
"What a tough way to end our season," said Head Coach Tyler LaTorre. "Casey Euper was absolutely amazing tonight! Dylan Stewart came and did his job brilliantly. This game, however, isn't indicative of the progress we've made as a program. I am so proud of our players and the work they put in this year. They changed the trajectory of our Waves Baseball Program for years to come."
The Waves were able to get on the board early thanks to James Dell'Amico's sac fly to plate Trey Dunn, and Pepperdine took a 1-0 lead after two innings. Fast forward to the fifth, and Max Aude powdered a fastball to the deepest part of the ballpark in dead center. It banged off the wall and Dell'Amico scored after reaching on an error to begin the frame. Things were looking good for Pepperdine through the first seven innings.
The Waves displayed otherworldly defense throughout the contest, beginning in the top of the second with Kai Laxa's highlight-reel stab up the middle and a dime of a throw to first base to get starter Casey Euper out of the inning. Euper worked out of several jams, including a situation with two runners on and only one out for the Gaels in the fifth.
Moving to the top of the sixth, Saint Mary's had runners on second and third with two outs, licking their chops to potentially tie the game. Dylan Stewart came in relief of Euper and spiked a fastball that ricocheted off catcher Max Aude's chest protector. Ian Armstrong tried to dash home but Stewart picked up the ball and delivered a perfect under-hand toss to Aude, who tagged Armstrong to preserve the Waves' 2-0 lead.HOLY SENSATIONAL‼️@LaxaKai makes a dazzling play 😤#SCTop10 | @SportsCenter | @ESPNAssignDesk #MakeWaves | @PepperdineWaves pic.twitter.com/OnPCAFaPXZ
— Pepperdine Baseball (@PepperdineBASE) May 21, 2026
The game unfortunately fell apart for Pepperdine after the seventh. Saint Mary's began the eighth having recorded just three hits in the first seven frames, but racked up seven against Lucien Wechsberg in the eighth inning. The Gaels put up a crooked number, scoring eight runs (all earned) off Wechsberg - who was dominant almost all season with a career-high 10 saves - and tacking on another against Gabe Maya.
"It was great to score first and to add another, but we didn't capitalize on other opportunities to extend the lead further," added LaTorre. "Against a team like Saint Mary's and their highly potent offense, you have to keep scoring and we didn't."
Despite the loss, the Waves still finished with 21 wins, the most since 2022. Pepperdine also won 15 conference games, more than any other year since 2018. The Waves were picked to finish ninth in the conference in the WCC preseason poll and finished fourth, also the best finish since 2018.
GAME NOTES
- Aude had two hits for Pepperdine.
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.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine baseball news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineBASE.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sarantos, Lukas (3-2)
L: Wechsberg, Lucien (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Mettam, Jared 1 ; Castellanos, Diego 1 ; Armstrong, Ian 2
3B: Johnson, Jacob 1
RBI: Sniffen, Makoa 3 ; Mettam, Jared 1 ; Castellanos, Diego 2 ; Johnson, Jacob 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sniffen, Makoa 2 ; Griffith, Tanner 1 ; Mettam, Jared 1 ; Kashimoto, Cody 1 ; Castellanos, Diego 2 ; Armstrong, Ian 1 ; Johnson, Jacob 1
SB: Kashimoto, Cody 1
CS: Allred, Nick 1
Batting:
3B: Aude, Max 1
RBI: Aude, Max 1 ; Dell'Amico, James 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dunn, Trey 1 ; Dell'Amico, James 1
HBP: Cardinale, Joe 1 ; Cook, Danny 1
Players Mentioned
C/1B
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1B/OF
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OF
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LHP
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INF
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LHP
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RHP
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RHP
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