If Thursday’s match up with the Cougars was any preview into what is in store for next season the Waves’ may have found a new heavyweight to contend with in the already tough West Coast Conference. Pepperdine baseball allowed a late lead to slip away eventually losing in 12 innings to soon-to-be conference foe Brigham Young 5-4 at Eddy D. Field Stadium.
Pepperdine starting pitcher Jared Lee made his first career start Thursday and showed signs of promise and jitters early on which included a second inning that saw a two out single a hit batsman and two walks which resulted in BYU (13-11) scoring their first run. Lee settled in giving up only three hits and three runs over 4.1 innings keeping the Waves close.
The Pepperdine (13-12) offense came to life in the fifth inning when they managed three hits advancing runners BYU errors and also sacrificing three times to score four to take a 4-3 lead.
However BYU was able to bring across the tying run to force extra innings in the top of the eighth inning when shortstop Andrew Law dragged a bunt single down the third base line.
The Waves squeezed three brilliant innings out of reliever Ricky Villareal but it was the RBI double off the bat of Jacob Brugman that put the Cougars ahead for good at 5-4. Villareal suffered the loss dropping his record to 1-2.
Leading the offensive charge all game long for Pepperdine was the stellar play of Trent Diedrich who managed to reach base five times including three singles and two walks.
The Waves continue the home stand against the Cougars tomorrow at 3 p.m. at home and play the concluding game Saturday at 1 p.m.