May 11, 2014
Box Score
MALIBU, Calif. - The 24th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team dropped a heartbreaking 3-0 decision to No. 22 Pepperdine University Sunday afternoon in a West Coast Conference game at Eddy D. Field Stadium.
With the loss, the Toreros fall to 34-19 overall, and conclude WCC play at 16-11, and will now play a waiting game to learn if they have earned a birth into the WCC Tournament. With the win, the Waves improve to 34-14 overall, move to 17-7 in the WCC and have clinched a birth into the WCC Tournament.
The Waves were able to take advantage of a few USD miscues and score a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Waves scored their two runs on an Aaron Brown RBI single, and a USD fielding error, to give Pepperdine the only runs they would need.
A pitchers dual then ensured, as USD starter Louie Lechich went on to retire 17 consecutive batters, before the Waves got a hit in the bottom of the seventh inning. On the flip side, Pepperdine starter Brown also was dominating, as he retired 18 consecutive batters at one point, before USD broke that up with a single in the top of the seventh inning. Lechich (8-3) pitched one of his best games, but was saddled with the loss, as he allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits in 7.2 innings of work. Pepperdine's Brown (10-1) picked up the complete game shutout win, while also striking out seven batters.
The home team went on to score one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the game at its final of 3-0.
Offensively for the Toreros, Connor Joe and Brandon DeFazio each recorded one hit to pace the way.
USD will close out the regular-season on Tuesday, as they make a road trip up to Long Beach to take on the Long Beach State 49ers in a 6 p.m. game at Blair Field.
