Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. â€" The University of San Diego baseball team dropped the opening game of a West Coast Conference series to the Pepperdine University Waves, 8-0, Thursday afternoon at Eddy D Field.

With the loss, the Toreros fall to 13-11 overall and 1-3 in the WCC. With the win, the Waves improve to 10-10 overall and move to 2-2 in the WCC.

The Waves would score the only runs they would need in the bottom of the first inning. The runs came on a Brad Anderson 2-run single, which scored Matt Gelalich, who was hit by a pitch, and Aaron Barnett, who reached on an error, to give Pepperdine a 2-0 lead.

San Diego's best scoring opportunity came in the top of the fifth inning. Daniel Gardner led of the frame with a single, and he moved to second on Conner Jauch's single through the left side. Then with two outs, Bryson Brigman reached on an error to load the bases, but USD could not find a way to push across any of those runners.

The Waves would then go on to score two runs in each of the fifth, sixth and eighth innings to put the game at its final of 8-0.

Offensively for the Toreros, Jauch led the way, as he went 2-for-3 with a stolen base. Gardner also had a good day at the plate, as he went 2-for-4.

Nick Sprengel (2-4) was saddled with the loss on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed six runs, on eight hits in 6.0 innings of work. Pepperdine's AJ Pucket (3-2) picked up the win for the Waves, as he allowed no runs on five hits in 7.0 innings of work.

The Toreros will return to action on Friday, as they resume this three-game series with the Waves at 3 p.m. Troy Conyers is set to take the mound for USD.