The Pepperdine baseball team pounded 11 hits and capitalized on six Dirtbag errors to notch a 14-3 home victory in 10 innings against Long Beach State on Sunday afternoon. This was the second part of a two-game exhibition series between the Waves and Dirtbags. Their first meeting on Nov. 1 resulted in an 8-8 tie.
Sophomore starting pitcher Scott Alexander took the win on Sunday despite looking shaky in two innings of work while the loss was charged to Long Beach State senior Tyler Topp.
The Dirtbags jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first but defensive miscues in the bottom of the inning helped put Pepperdine on top. Waves freshman Brian Humphries reached second on a misplay by Long Beach State centerfielder Jonathan Jones. Senior left fielder David Harris followed with a double down the third base line to drive in Humphries and knot the game at 1. Harris later scored on a passed ball and wild pickoff attempt by Dirtbags catcher Kip Masuda.
In the third inning the Waves loaded the bases with no outs on a single and back-to-back walks. Long Beach reliever Manny McElroy then hit junior first baseman Ryan Heroy before surrendering a pair of sac flies and a single to push the score to 6-1.
“We’ve really been focusing on our ability to handle the bat and execute offensive situations when we’re supposed to said Waves Head Coach Steve Rodriguez. It was great to see our guys come through and do what they’re supposed to do in those situations.”
Long Beach added a second run in the fourth inning and the score remained 6-2 until the eighth when Waves junior third baseman Colin Rooney smashed a two-out pitch over the left centerfield wall for a three-run home run.
The Waves then scored another four runs in the ninth courtesy of five singles and an error by Dirtbags shortstop Kirk Singer to jump ahead 13-2. Each team scored once more in the 10th and the Waves easily ran away with the 14-3 victory.
Offensively Rooney and Heroy knocked in three runs apiece to lead the team. Duron also had a big day as he went 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Pepperdine used seven pitchers and most of them struggled with their control. With the exception of senior Doug Konoske who retired the side in order in the ninth each pitcher walked at least one batter totaling nine free passes by the Waves. But they were able to pitch out of several tough situations and forced Long Beach to strand 13 runners.
The victory capped off Pepperdine’s annual Alumni Weekend. The festivities started on Friday with the Alumni Golf Tournament at Moorpark Country Club. Former Waves Paul Coleman Patrick Rooney Barry Enright and Ryan Beglin took first place in the foursome scramble. On Saturday afternoon the Waves’ present squad defeated Pepperdine’s alumni team 12-2 in the John Scolinos Alumni Game.
“When we have alumni come out … it brings back great memories not only for them but for our coaching staff as well Rodriguez said. We really produce some amazing people.”