DAVID TESIC/Assistant Photo Editor
TAYLOR BIRD
Staff Writer
Sophomore Trent Diedrich’s two-run double and three Dirtbag errors sparked a five-run first inning for the No.-13 Pepperdine baseball team, as it made its way to a 7-5 victory against No.-3 Long Beach State on Tuesday afternoon at Eddy D. Field Stadium.
“They’re a great team,” said Waves’ junior infielder Chase d’Arnaud, following the game. “Just coming out today and beating them was awesome. It’s good for us, and hopefully we’ll get something rolling now.”
Junior Robert Dickmann (3-2) threw 5 1/3 solid innings to win his second consecutive start, while Dirtbag starter Tyler Topp (1-2) took the loss.
Long Beach State (17-4) got on the board immediately, after its first two batters singled and scored on a pair of Pepperdine (16-7) errors, to take a 2-0 lead. Dickmann then struck out catcher Travis Howell looking to retire the side.
Senior designated hitter Matt Aidem started things off in the Waves’ half of the first with a one-out single. d’Arnaud then reached on an error, and junior leftfielder Eric Thames drew a walk to load the bases before Diedrich roped a ball to right field for a double to tie the game at two. Junior centerfielder Nate Simon followed with a two-run double of his own and later scored on an error, pushing the score to 5-2 after one inning.
Pepperdine added another run in the second after a wild pitch by reliever Adam Wilk, who had replaced starter Topp just two batters earlier, allowed d’Arnaud to score from third to give the Waves a 6-2 lead.
The Dirtbags were sent down in order in the third but chipped away at the Pepperdine lead in the fourth, scoring their third run on an RBI groundout by second baseman Devin Lohman.
The Waves went to their bullpen in the sixth inning after Dickmann surrendered a one-out walk. Senior reliever Doug Konoske got a quick fly-out to deep centerfield but then loaded the bases with a single and a hit batter. This called for another pitching change, and new pitcher sophomore Jordan Durrance induced a groundout to first base to get Pepperdine out of the inning with its lead unscathed.
This closed the books on Dickmann, who tossed 5 and 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on just four hits. He also struck out three and walked one.
“Robert’s a competitor,” said Head Coach Steve Rodriguez. “We made some mistakes behind him, and I think that kind of shows his maturity.”
Pepperdine extended its lead by one run in the bottom of the eighth. Junior outfielder David Harris singled up the middle with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch by David Brown and scored on first baseman Shane Peterson’s error.
With a comfortable 7-3 lead heading into the top of the ninth, the Waves looked to close the door on Long Beach State. But the Dirtbags would not go down easily, drawing a leadoff walk and loading the bases on back-to-back singles. Outfielder TJ Mittelstaedt then tried to dump a ball into centerfield, but Simon saved at least one run from scoring by lunging to his front to make a diving catch for the first out.
Senior pitcher Nick Guadi struck out outfielder Jonathan Jones before giving up a two-run single to outfielder Steve Tinoco, putting the tying run on base with the Waves up, 7-5. But nothing more would come of the Long Beach State rally, as the following batter flew out to right field, sealing the victory for Pepperdine.
“I think the biggest key was that we took advantage of some of their mistakes,” Rodriguez said. “We both made four errors, which is unlike both teams … I think our offense did a good job with staying with it.”
Diedrich and Simon knocked in two runs apiece to lead the Pepperdine offense. Junior shortstop Bryce Mendonca also had a big day, recording two hits and a stolen base in four at-bats.
“I think we’re good where we are right now,” d’Arnaud said. “We just need to come out and not try to do too much. In baseball, that’s a common problem … we just need to be relaxed and play our game because we’ve got the talent and it’ll all come together.”
Conference play begins for Pepperdine this weekend when it travels to Spokane, Wash., to take on WCC rival Gonzaga (15-10) for a three-game series.
03-27-2008
