SAN DIEGO—San Diego rallied in the ninth inning but came up just short in an 8-7 loss to Pepperdine on Saturday evening at Fowler Park.
 
The Toreros (14-5, 1-1 WCC) matched the Waves (7-7, 1-1 WCC) run for run before Pepperdine broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the eighth inning, stretching its lead by two. The Waves added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to lead 8-5.
 
With one out, Ripken Reyes and Shane McGuire hit back-to-back singles and with two outs, Caleb Ricketts hit an RBI single to center field to score Reyes from second. 
 
The runners both advanced on a wild pitch and Adam Kerner reach on a fielding error by the third baseman to score McGuire and pull the Toreros within one. However, a popup to second base ended the rally and moved the Toreros to 1-1 in the series.
 
Kerner added a two-run home run—his first of the season—in the fifth inning when he sent a 2-0 pitch over the left field wall to tie the game for the third time (5-5). Kerner finished 1-for-5 with a run and a team-high three RBIs. 
 
Reyes went 3-for-4 with two runs and Caleb Ricketts went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Cody Jefferis and Jeff Houghtby each finished 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
 
Anthony Donatella (1-0, 3.31 ERA) got the start for the Toreros, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up three runs on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. 
 
The USD bullpen gave up five hits and five runs with five walks and six strikeouts in relief of Donatella. Grady Miller (2-2, 9.22 ERA) was credited with the loss.
 
The Toreros will look to bounce back in the final game of their WCC opening series on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT.